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Sportsman

California Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 8 • Issue 10 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Dick Openshaw EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington

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CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER Recent catches of giant tuna off the Southern California coast down into Mexican waters have locals proclaiming the quality of fish to be as good as it’s been in a century. The bite should stay strong this month. (GO DEEP CHARTERS) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP CALIFORNIA OFFICE 4517 District Blvd. • Bakersfield, CA 93313 (661) 381-7533 WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 10

FEATURES 30

KING-SIZE FUN No, the projection for fall-run Sacramento River king salmon is nowhere near what it’s been in recent years. But the low flows and aboveaverage water temperatures that made for a miserable 2015 fishery aren’t either.

With more water in the Sac and Feather Rivers, the July 16 opener could make for better fishing. Mark Fong has details.

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HIS WINE IS FINE Meet Marc Mondavi, a third-generation winemaker whose family name is one of the most distinguished in the Napa Valley. Mondavi’s signature label, Divining Rod, pays homage to his water dowser skills – and it turns out he’s not a bad shot or angler either!

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TUNA TRICKS Not for over a century have such big tuna been brought back to Southern California ports with such frequency.

One-hundred-pound fish have been more common this season than any of the old-timers remember.

Steve Carson explains why and, more importantly, how to bring home your own trophy bluefin or yellowfin.

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129

Our Urban Huntress Brittany Boddington started to wonder if she was suffering from a turkey curse when her Texas hunt was a fiasco. She traveled north to Kansas and was struggling again to find any toms to take a shot at. Did our Los Angeles-based scribe finally rock her first bird?

HERE KITTY, KITTY Tim Hovey’s daughters Jessica (left) and Alyssa look forward to summer outings at various California lakes to cast for hungry catfish. High-tech gear is not required to fish for these whiskered delights. Tim shares his set-up for catfishing success.

(TIM E. HOVEY)

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

DEPARTMENTS

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77 103 105 115 119

Tales of a Biologist: Tagging trout, gamefish for scientific research Mono County trout fishing update Score more yellowtail and tuna Try versatile underspin lures for bass Work the banks for SoCal largies Big Bear Zoo rehabs wildlife in need

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The Editor’s Note Protecting Wild California: CDFW adds new K9 units Outdoor Calendar Photo Contest winners From Field to Fire: Comb coastal beaches for clams; Shellfish pizza

STALKING JAYHAWK STATE GOBBLERS

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New feature! Adventures of Todd Kline Rig of the Month: Split-shot bass set-up “Group therapy:” Sighting in for deer hunting season

California Sportsman goes digital!

Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Only $1.89 an issue. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $39.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 3829220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2016 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 10 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE

Marc Mondavi’s passion for wine started with his grandfather and father, and three of he and wife Janice’s four kids are also in the industry. (CHRIS COCOLES)

A

dmittedly, I don’t know much about wine, save for the occasional glass or three and what I watched on the small (Falcon Crest) and big screens (Sideways), and recalling my Greek papou (grandpa) pouring homemade red from barrels in his San Francisco garage.

But I can appreciate the patience, hard work and dedication that the winemakers of Napa Valley put into harvesting their grapes – the meticulous attention to details and getting the timing right has always fascinated me – and bottling the finished product.

So when I had a chance to head up the Napa Valley and visit Marc Mondavi of Charles Krug Winery fame, I couldn’t resist the opportunity. Marc and his wife Janice live on Howell Mountain, a winding road away from the tasting rooms and endless acres of vineyards in the valley below around St. Helena.

Mondavi’s love of fishing and hunting across California and North and South America provided a convenient hook for this issue’s feature story, but a lot of what we talked about was how special the family bonds are for the winemakers who put Napa on the map. Pick a winery off Highway 29 and chances are it’s children and grandchildren running the show after their older generations – many, like Marc’s grandparents Cesare and Rosa came to California after emigrating from Europe. My grandpa, who died in the mid1970s when I was a kid, took pride when he filled his barrels, and even after he passed away, carafes filled with it was always a staple at our Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve tables.

Marc told me of attending similar gatherings held by his family, as well as those put on by owners of adjacent wineries.

“We were all close. I can remember Mom and Dad having dinner parties with the Martinis (of Louis M. Martini Winery) and others,” said Mondavi, who turns 62 this month. “There were about 25 to 30 wineries back then and they were all family-owned.”

Mondavi gushed about his own four daughters likely all being in the business started by their great grandfather 70 years ago. I imagine years from now the ladies will share similar stories about wine and family. –Chris Cocoles

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TALES OF A BIOLOGIST

CHECK THAT TAG

BIOLOGISTS WHO TAG TROUT AND OTHER GAMEFISH RELY ON ANGLERS WHO CATCH THEM TO HELP THEIR RESEARCH Part of a study group, rainbow trout sporting Floy, or “spaghetti,” tags await transport from their hatchery to California lakes. Biologists hope that anglers who catch tagged fish will report them, as it can provide important management data for the stock and fishery. (TIM E. HOVEY)

By Tim E. Hovey

I

n over 20 years as a fisheries biologist, I’ve participated in many research projects involving dozens of different species of fish.

Most of these projects involved investigating the life history of gamefish to assist in setting angling regulations. Almost all sportfishing rules are derived from life history data collected by biologists.

Minimum size limits are usually established at the size a species reaches after it has had a chance to reproduce at least once.

The spawning season for some game species drives the recreational fishery. To avoid interrupting reproduction, fishing seasons for these species are set outside their spawning period.

Besides collecting biological data to better understand aspects of fisheries, there are times when researchers need to know more about fish movement or migrations. This can be a tough science nut to crack when you can’t just follow fish around like wildlife biologists do with animals wearing telemetry collars. This is where the process of fish tagging comes into play.

The basic goal of fish tagging is to mark a fish so that when it’s recaptured, the tag will illustrate that the fish is special and part of a research project or a data point. Collecting information via fish tagging is solely dependent on the participation of the angler. calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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TALES OF A BIOLOGIST

THERE ARE A NUMBER of reasons why biologists may tag fish.

Movement over time of a tagged individual is probably the most common. A captured fish is identified, measured and its location is recorded. The identifying tag is inserted and the fish is released, hopefully to be recaptured at a later date. If recaptured, the specific tag number can be recorded and information on travel distance over time and growth rate can be collected.

Fish can also be tagged to identify them in a closed system like a hatchery. I used to work in a marine fish hatchery and we’d tag each adult fish using an internal PIT, or passive integrated transponder, tag. These large specimens were destined to be used as brood stock and specifically identifying each one was important in tracking each fish.

Since these larger fish were to be used as brood stock, their capture location, sex and size at capture is very important. Juvenile fish produced from eggs of adult fish captured locally were released locally. Additionally, maintaining the proper sex Biologists at work tagging fish. Studying the movement over time of a tagged individual is probably the most common reason trout and other species are marked. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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ratio in brood stock tanks is important in maintaining a consistent supply of eggs for release. Identifying each spawning adult in each tank through tagging is very important to hatchery success.

At times, when lakes are stocked with trout, the fish are occasionally tagged for upcoming fishing contests or to identify planted trout from other similar species in the lake.

Here in Southern California, some lakes require planted trout to be tagged so that they can be identified should they escape the lake.

There are essentially two types of long-term tags for fish: internal and external. The internal tags, protected in the body cavity of the fish, last longer and can hold more specimen data since they are data chips. These tags or probes are surgically inserted into the ventral portion of the fish. A temperature probe extends outside the body, indicating to the angler that a tag is present inside the fish.

Other internal tags such as PIT tags and coded wire tags are used for closed-system identification like in hatcheries. These tags are injected into the fish dorsally and are either used to identify individuals permanently held in the facility (PIT tags) –

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TALES OF A BIOLOGIST

like brood stock – or used to mark a fish as part of a particular group produced and eventually released by the hatchery (coded wire tags).

Essentially, PIT tags are used for the large brood stock fish and coded wire tags are used to identify released offspring of those brood stock. PIT tag information is retrieved using a special electronic reader. The coded wire tag is extremely tiny and the identification number must be retrieved using a microscope.

External tags or FLOY tags are injected into the dorsal area of a fish and are simply narrow plastic tubes with contact information printed on the outside of the tag.

These external tags may not last as long due to normal fish wear and tear, but they’re readily visi-

ble. Usually produced in bright colors, these tags have information printed on them and give the angler instructions on what to do next and who to contact.

The type of tag used is dependent on what type of information the researcher is looking to collect. If scientists are

A Floy tag is secured to the dorsal area of a fish the same way that that little plastic T-bar holds the price tag on a garment before you buy it. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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TALES OF A BIOLOGIST

looking for movement or migration information in an area of high angler pressure – such as a coastal bay – an external tag will likely yield more return data for the effort.

gotten 20 percent of the tags and their valuable data back.

These sophisticated and expensive devices ($400 to $950 each) record depth, internal and external temperature and light level. With enough returned by anglers, the scientists can accurately pattern white seabass movement, better understanding this popular gamefish species.

REGARDLESS OF WHY THE fish were originally tagged, the one IN COLLEGE, I FLOY-TAGGED thousands of spotted bay bass for a research project gathering information on the species’ movements during spawning season. Angler information on recaptured fish determined that spotties move to different parts of bays when it’s time to reproduce. Without dedicated anglers and tagged fish, this information would be impossible to gather.

If information on long-range migration of ocean species is the research goal, internal tags that are sophisticated enough to continually gather data are the tag of choice. These tags are surgically implanted into the body cavity of larger fish. A colorful Floy tag is also attached to the dorsal portion of the fish to indicate that the fish is part of a research project.

The Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) in Oceanside has tagged over 400 adult white seabass with sophisticated internal tags to gather information on movement patterns, migration and habitat use off the coast of California and Baja California since 2008. To date, PIER researchers have

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aspect of the study that is essential for success is the actions of the angler. Should he be lucky enough to hook a tagged fish, without the angler’s input on his catch the study would be useless.

The most important part of tag-and-recapture studies is This passive integrated transponder tag reader lets a biologist know if a fish is carrying one of the red PIT tag implants and is part of a study or not. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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TALES OF A BIOLOGIST

Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) researcher Scott Aalbers inserts an archival tag into a white seabass. About 20 percent of PIER tags have come back, thanks to anglers, allowing valuable data to be collected. (TIM E. HOVEY)

the recapture part. Without the angler’s efforts, you may as well be tossing pieces of plastic into the ocean and crossing your fingers.

At any one time, here may be dozens of ongoing tagging programs on saltwater and freshwater game species in California. Some may be simply a reward offered during a trout fishing contest on opening day. Others may be serious research projects that literally depend on the action of the angler to provide valuable data on the tagged specimen.

It doesn’t matter if you’re soaking salmon eggs in a high mountain lake or drifting live squid on the backside of Catalina Island, fishermen everywhere are an important part of all tag-and-recapture projects; I would go so far to state that they are the most important part.

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If you’re lucky enough to catch a tagged fish, please take the time to follow the tag instructions and contact the researcher.

The info you provide is more valuable than you know. CS

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CDFW’S DOG UNIT GROWS BY FIVE

By Chris Cocoles

D

ogs are some of the most valuable team members in law enforcement circles, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been assisted greatly by its K9 units in overseeing the state’s fishing, hunting and outdoors scene.

CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division added five new four-legged officers to its crew after the dogs and their handlers completed training at the Tehama County facility north of Sacramento.

And it’s not just the dogs entering the organization as rookies; four of the five handlers are also coming aboard.

The fifth, Brian Boyd, is a CDFW officer whose previous dog, Phebe, retired but has been replaced by Champ.

With a big part of CDFW’s job to stake out illegal cultivation of marijuana in rural areas and prevent the water wast-

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WILD CALIFORNIA

ing that goes along with it amid drought conditions and deteriorating salmon and steelhead habitat, the K9s will be an integral piece of the puzzle.

A CDFW news release also stated the dogs are good for The newest California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens and their K9 tracking wildlife and partners are Aaron Galwey and Rango, Brian Patrick and Karma, Timothy Bolla and Luna, Nick Buckler and Indy, and Brian Boyd and Champ. (CDFW) invasive species.

“The value of K9s cers. This alone makes them an immeais greatly recognized in their ability to surable asset.” use scent to locate evidence, especialThe release said the work of the ly items that have been intentionally dog officers can save up to 800 personconcealed,” said Christy Wurster, an nel-related hours. assistant chief who leads the K9 proThe newest graduates add to a unit gram. “These dogs can locate evidence that had previously fielded 10 teams in a fraction of the time it would take of handlers and K9s. Congratulations officers. Our dogs have proven to be to the newest members of the CDFW a significant deterrent to suspect reteam! CS sistance, reducing assaults on our offi-

JULY 1-31

PROTECTING

How Big is Big Fishing Derby, West Walker River (NorthernMonoChamber.com) Statewide free fishing day Zone A archery deer opener Stampede Reservoir Kokanee Derby (kokaneepower.org) Sacramento (below Red Bluff Diversion Dam), American and Feather Rivers fall-run king salmon seasons open Kids Fishing Festival, Snowcreek Resort at Mammoth Lakes (KidsFishFest.com) Bridgeport Fish Fest, Twin Lakes (MonoVillage.com)

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Pardee Lake Team Kokanee Derby (kokaneepower.org) Archery deer opener in several zones Archery bear season opener Zone 7 (White Mountains) bighorn sheep opener Permit general buck pronghorn antelope season Crowley Lake Stillwater Classic (CrowleyLakeFishCamp.com) 29-9/8 Mono Village Labor Day Fishing Derby, Upper Twin Lakes (monovillage.com) Plenty of fishing opportunities and derbies await Eastern Sierra anglers this month in spots like this one at Virginia Lakes near Bridgeport. (MONO COUNTY TOURISM)

AUGUST 1-9 6 7-9 13 13 15

Mono Village Summer Fishing Derby, Upper Twin Lakes (monovillage.com) Lake Almanor Team Salmon and Trout Derby (kokaneepower.org) Size Doesn’t Matter Fishing Derby, West Walker River (northernmonochamber.com) Zone A general deer season opener Young Angler Tournament, Shelter Island Pier in San Diego (sportfishing.org) Klamath River fall-run king salmon opener

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PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS!

This grandpa-grandson capture of Randy and Tanner Riley and Tanner’s first gobbler is our monthly Browning hunting photo contest winner. It was taken by Tanner’s dad Travis and scores the Washington hunter a Browning hat!

A charter trip out of San Diego over Memorial Day Weekend paid off well for Santa Cruz’s Clara Ricabal.

She won the jackpot award with this nice yellowtail, and her pic is this issue’s monthly Daiwa Photo Contest winner. It wins Ricabal a Daiwa hat, T-shirt and scissors for cutting braided line and puts her in the running for the grand prize of a Daiwa rod-andreel combo, to be awarded soon!

For your shot at winning Daiwa and Browning products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@ media-inc.com, or to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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FLOWS, KING FISHING LOOKING UP ON SAC DESPITE A DOWN FORECAST FOR SACRAMENTO AND FEATHER CHINOOK, THIS YEAR’S SEASON SHOULD BE BETTER THAN LAST

By Mark Fong

F

or Chinook salmon fans, July 16 marks the scheduled opening of the 2016 salmon season on the Sacramento and Feather Rivers. But the big question on everyone’s mind is, while the drought is not over, thanks to El Niño, do year-over-year rainfall totals provide hope for a good salmon season?

After what was deemed a disappointing, drought-affected run last year and with a forecast for about 300,000 fall-run Chinook to head up the Sacramento this year – half of projections for recent seasons – we need something positive to hang our hats on this summer.

“I am optimistic,” says Capt. Manuel Saldana Jr. of MSJ Guide Service (530-301-7455; msjguideservice.com). “I think people will be surprised that we’re gonna have more salmon and larger salmon than we have had over the past few years.”

POSITIVE SIGNS Out in the Pacific off of the Marin County coast, the ocean salmon season has been solid, with happy anglers connecting on good numbers of fish in the 15- to 20-pound class.

Moreover, river anglers are hopeful that the results outside the Golden Gate are a positive indicator for the upcoming Sac and Feather seasons.

“I am convinced that over the last few years a lot of the younger fish have stayed in the ocean and did not come up the river systems,” Saldana says.

“Some of the salmon held back, and I think this year, instead of having 2-yearold fish, we’re gonna have more 3- and 4-year-old salmon, which are going to be bigger and larger than people are expecting.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF FLOW Saldana understands what could make or break this season.

“Water is the key. When I checked yesterday, Lake Shasta, which controls the Sacramento River, was at 90 percent of capacity,” he said in mid-June.

“Lake Oroville, which controls the flows on the Feather, was at 91 percent.

That’s a drastic change from this time last year, which means there is more water available for the salmon.”

With more water in our reservoirs than 2015, water-release management is one of the key factors that will determine how the salmon season will unfold.

When the fish leave the cool waters of the ocean, they continue to seek out cool currents as they make their journey upriver.

When there is sufficient water being released, the salmon have a natural

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NORCAL

G

The forecasted run of about 300,000 Chinook back to the Sacramento River this season should find higher, cooler flows for the July 16 opener and beyond than what greeted 2015’s return.

(MSJ GUIDE SERVICE)

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NORCAL inclination to hold in the deep pools and holes, making them more accessible to anglers. Saldana advises that water temps in the mid- to low 50s are ideal for migrating salmon.

Last year’s limited flows negatively impacted both water quality and temperature for much of the season. It was not until later in the fall that cooler weather brought down water temps.

“This year, I think anglers will have a lot more opportunities to fish stretches of the lower Sacramento, places like Verona, Knights Landing, Tisdale, Colusa all the way up to about Chico,” says Saldana.

“As for the Feather, there will be opportunities throughout the entire river system in areas like Shanghai Bend and Boyd’s Pump. Last year, the whole system was warm and the salmon went straight up to the Outlet and then to hatchery, where the cooler water was,” he says.

MORE OPTIONS Not only will there be more water to fish, but additional techniques and tactics will be workable this season.

“We will be able to employ some of the tactics that we couldn’t use last year. On the Feather, with more flows we will be able to boondoggle roe, where we couldn’t last year because the flows were simply not strong enough to

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keep the boat positioned correctly,” Saldana says. “We really either had to dead-stick roe in a deep hole or find a little spot where you could use your sardine-wrapped FlatFish. Another way we can catch salmon is trolling spinners downriver. We look for the channels where the One reason salmon anglers should be optimistic this summer and fall is that key impoundments on the Sacramento and Feather systems – Shasta and Oroville Reservoirs – were at about 90 percent of capacity, a big jump from recent drought-stricken years. (MSJ GUIDE SERVICE)

salmon are coming up and point the bow downstream, with the electric trolling motor working at 1 to 3 mph.”

PREDICTING THE OPENER So where will Saldana be on July 16? Many guides would hold their cards close to the vest, but not Saldana.

“Depending on how much water they release, I will

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NORCAL probably do the season opener either in the upper half of the Feather near Oroville, or in the middle stretch near Gridley,â€? he says. “There will be fall ďŹ sh, but there will be some spring-run ďŹ sh holdovers as well.â€?

While Saldana likes the Feather for the opener, he knows that being adaptable and making wise decisions are always key factors for his clients’ success. It’s a lesson he has learned well over many seasons, jumping back and forth between the SacraWith better ows likely this year, anglers mento and Feather and should be able to again employ tactics like changing his approach boondoggling roe, which wasn’t possible to suit the conditions. last year when the Feather River reached dangerously low levels. (MSJ GUIDE SERVICE) “Depending on where the salmon turn up, we will be in the optimum place for clients to hook their ďŹ sh,â€? says Saldana. “The bottom line is more water equals cooler temperatures. We are going to have more ďŹ sh and I believe we will have a better grade of ďŹ sh this year.â€? CS

CHINOOK PLANTING AT LAKE OROVILLE Although the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently announced that they would not stock anymore inland Chinook this year, following a recent load of 40,000 into Folsom Lake, local anglers can take heart.

The Lake Oroville Chinook planting project is run separately from the CDFW’s, according to local ďŹ sheries biologist Julie Brown. “We will be planting about 125,000 Chinook into Lake Oroville this fall,â€? says Brown.

But she points out that another popular local ďŹ shery will not fare as well. “We probably won’t be able to plant steelhead in the Thermalito Afterbay this year, because that only happens when there is a ‘surplus’ of eggs. We did not have a surplus this year, but since we planted 11,000 steelhead there last year, the ďŹ shing should still be great.â€?

This writer and several other observers on the topic of the Thermalito Afterbay have mentioned that the relatively abundant Chinook that are readily available at the Feather River Hatchery could make an excellent substitute species to continue creating local ďŹ shing opportunities in the afterbay. –Steve Carson Editor’s note: Besides Capt. Manuel Saldana Jr., another guide worth checking out is Capt. Gordon Holt of 5 “Sâ€? River Guides.

Contact Gordon at (916) 209-3870 or 5sriverguide.com.

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NORCAL

FROM FIELD ...

A shellfisher digs a trench for soft-shell clams in a muddy substrate. This is a great way to approach colonies of the bivalves, as it ensures their shells don’t get broken. Plenty of coastal areas north of the Bay Area are prime spots for harvesting a bounty of clams.

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

CAN YOU DIG IT?!

HEADING TO THE BEACH THIS SUMMER? BRING A SHOVEL AND HARVEST DELICIOUS CLAMS

By Scott Haugen

S

ummer is here, and that means it’s time to head to the beach!

While many anglers head for California’s vast coastline with fishing rod in hand, others grab a shovel and bucket and head out to dig for clams.

The Golden State has a variety of clams. Be it the largest clam in the world – the geoduck (pronounced goo-eeeduck) – littlenecks, razors, soft-shells or others, they all are great eating.

Because soft-shell clams are found in most bays, estuar-

ies and river mouths north of San Francisco, that’s where we’ll focus. No matter what the size of soft-shell clam you dig, it must be retained, even if the shell is broken. Clams can’t regenerate or repair broken shells, so they must be kept; otherwise, they perish and will be wasted.

Due to their long neck, soft-shells can live up to 20 inches deep. When salinity levels are high in the summer, they can be found higher in the substrate at only 6 to 8 inches deep. They thrive in muddy substrates, but also live in sand and mixed substrates below the tideline. Because they live in the upper sections of big estuaries, a good low tide is all that’s needed to expose their beds. calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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NORCAL The beauty of clams is they can be prepared a variety of ways, including as a tasty and popular pizza topping. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

... TO FIRE

SHELLFISH PIZZA TOPPINGS

By Tiffany Haugen

C

lams can be cooked many ways, but the key to thoroughly enjoying them is making sure all the sand is cleaned from the meat. Once cleaned, clams can be fried, chopped, minced, smoked and more. In fact, it’s the diversity of clam meat that makes it so delicious.

One of the keys to enjoying fresh clams is not smothering them with ingredients that will mask natural flavors. This pizza works with any type of clam meat, even canned clams. With the perfect balance of herbs, garlic, creamy cheese, clams and a crispy crust, this pizza goes together quickly on any night of the week.

This is a family favorite, one that, no matter how many mouths there are to feed, there never seems to be enough pizza to go around. You know that when the kids and grandparents love it, you’ve found something good!

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon roasted garlic* ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese ½ cup chopped clams cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon cornmeal for dusting Fresh parsley for garnish 1 prepared pizza crust**

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In a small bowl mix olive oil, garlic and Italian seasoning.

Let sit at least 10 minutes at room temperature.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out pizza crust to ¼ to 1/3 inches. Sprinkle cornmeal onto baking sheet, pizza pan or peel.

Spread olive oil mixture on to pizza crust. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the top, followed by clams and Parmesan cheese.

Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven (if using a pizza stone, preheat with the oven) 12 to 14 minutes until cheese melts and crust is lightly browned. Top with fresh parsley if desired. * To make roasted garlic, slice garlic heads in half, crosswise. Place on a large square of foil, drizzle with olive oil and a dash of salt. Enclose in foil and bake in a preheated 375-degree oven or grill 30 minutes or until garlic is golden brown and slips easily from skin. ** For a crispy pizza crust recipe, visit tiffanyhaugen.com/camp-pizza.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s new book, Cooking Seafood, send a check for $20 (free S&H), to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. This and other cookbooks can also be ordered at tiffanyhaugen.com.

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NORCAL CLEANING TIPS DIGGING CLAMS If digging an individual clam, begin about 6 inches to the side of the show, or breathing hole, so as not to sever the neck or hit the shell. Soft-shells got their name because of their sharp, fragile shells. Keep digging toward the show, locating the clam anywhere from 6 to 20 inches deep.

Soft-shells cannot move like razor clams, so there’s no rush when digging.

If digging amid a dense concentration of clams, dig a trench a foot or more deep, starting about 6 inches from the nearest show. Carefully peel away the substrate with the shovel blade as you work into the colony. Carefully pick up clams as you go. Do not pull soft-shells by the neck or by only part of the shell, as they will break. Take the time to carefully work your fingers around the entire clam, gently working it out; this is where thin, sturdy gloves are nice.

Because soft-shells live in muddy substrates, many clammers wear waders and rain jackets, no matter how nice the weather. On warmer summer days, wearing grubby tennis shoes and shorts is common, as they can be hosed off afterwards.

If targeting large soft-shell clams, look for the biggest shows. A bigger show usually leads to a bigger clam.

ING P P I H S E E R F with s r e d r o l l a on M S C : e d o c n o p cou

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Smaller-sized soft-shell clams can be steamed and eaten whole, which is how they are commonly prepared on the East Coast, where these clams are from. Because softshells carry a lot of sand inside – compared to other clams – you want to thoroughly clean larger ones prior to cooking. Many people place clams in saltwater and add cornmeal, then let them sit two to three hours. This allows the clams to pump the cornmeal into their bodies while pumping out the sand. This method can leave gritty cornmeal inside and not get all the sand out. Another popular purging method is to add a quarter cup of salt for every quart of fresh water and let the clams sit between 30 to 60 minutes. You can also place them in clean saltwater, which allows the clams to pump themselves clean of most of the sand. Don’t let the clams sit too long, though, or they will suffocate, die and be inedible.

They can also be cleaned right after catching them by placing in boiling water from five to 15 seconds, which is my favorite way. Next, work the clam from the shell, peel the dark skin from the mantle and neck, cut off the black tip of the neck, slit both siphons open to clean out the sand, and finally separate the gut from the neck and mantle. To separate the gut, pull the neck and mantle away from the visceral mass. Next, separate the gut from the

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NORCAL foot, scraping away any remaining internal mass. Now it’s ready to prepare. Note that the foot of a soft-shell clam is small and yields limited meat compared to the neck and mantle.

CLAMMING IN CALI California’s top razor-clamming beaches are found in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. Historically, Clam Beach has been the top razor spot.

Littleneck clams can be found along the entire California coast, with Bodega and Tomales Bays being the top areas.

The Pismo clam is one of the largest found in California and the best digging occurs just south of Pismo Beach further south in San Luis Obispo County.

The best digging for butter clams is found in the tidal estuaries north of Humboldt Bay. Another species of Washington (butter) clams, along with gapers, are commonly targeted in Humboldt, Bodega, Morro and Tomales Bays, Drakes Estero and Elkhorn Slough.

Geoducks, the largest clams in the world, are hard to dig but can be found in Drakes Estero, and Tomales, Bodega and Humboldt Bays on low minus tides.

Soft-shell clams are found in most bays, estuaries and river mouths north of San Francisco, with some of the best digging to be had at Drakes Soft-shell clams are excellent eating, and with Estero, Bodega and Humboldt generous limits and many places to find them on an average low tide, efforts can be well worth it. Here, Bays, Lake Earl and Ten Mile the author’s wife, Tiffany Haugen, is off to a good Creek. The inlets of the Nastart on soft-shells. (SCOTT HAUGEN) varro, Big and Eel Rivers also have soft-shells.

For up-to-date information on clamming in the Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s brand new state of California, license requirements, seasons, legal book, Clamming: A How To Guide, send a check for $10 (inclamming time and more, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Fishcludes S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR ing/Ocean/Regulations/Fishing-Map/SF-Bay#clams or 97489. To see videos on how to dig and clean soft-shell clams, visit check out a recent copy of the fishing regulations. CS OutdoorsNow.com.

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BAY AREA Marc Mondavi’s family name is one of the most storied in St. Helena and the entire wine-centric Napa Valley. His Divining Rod blends are his passion – along with bass and trout fishing and hunting big game and birds. (CHRIS COCOLES/MARC MONDAVI)

TURNING WATER INTO WINE

MARC MONDAVI’S LIVING THE DREAM AS VINEYARD MOGUL, WATER WITCHER AND SPORTSMAN

By Chris Cocoles

A

NGWIN (Napa County)–The fourth generation isn’t all that different from the third generation, which isn’t all that different from the second or even the first generation.

It’s a family brought together by the harvest of Napa Valley grapes that become the many wine varietals of Charles Krug, one of the region’s giants. It’s also a family tree that’s shared its love of the outdoors for six decades.

Marc Mondavi is among the latest generations of his family to keep up the tradition started by his grandparents – Italian immigrants Cesare and Rosa, who purchased Charles Krug in 1943 – and continued by Marc’s father Peter Mondavi Sr., who passed away at 101 in February.

Now it’s Marc and his brother Peter Jr. carrying on the family business (their late uncle, Robert, created his own successful label before that side of the Mondavi family

sold its $1 billion interests in what remains known as Robert Mondavi Winery to a private conglomerate in 2004).

Marc and his wife Janice have four daughters who either work directly in or have a connection to the wine industry. And they all seem obsessed with fishing or hunting (or both).

“I taught my wife to fly fish and now she’s a fanatic,” Marc says.

“One daughter is a big-game hunter and another is a little bit of a duck hunter. And two of them are fly anglers and kind of follow me on that,” adds Janice Mondavi.

Marc is also what is known as a “water witch,” among the gifted few capable of using divining rods to detect underground sources of water, which can be a godsend for these vineyards spread across these rolling hills and valleys of wine country.

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BAY AREA

Marc’s dad Peter Mondavi Sr., who was still fishing at 100 years old before passing away at 102 in February, was also a diehard angler, and they would often fish for trout in the Sierras together. (MARC MONDAVI)

they fish, to the grapes they grow to create their wines, all of the Mondavis take advantage of the natural surroundings and embrace what they do and who they are.

STASHED SOMEWHERE AMID BOXES of memories and family heirlooms is Marc Mondavi’s first pay stub from working for his dad at Charles Krug. He was about 10 years old when first on the payroll.

“Twenty-five cents an hour. I don’t think Dad knew the minimum wage back then; I don’t know what it was,” Mondavi says while sitting on the shady veranda on his and Janice’s property on Howell Mountain, just uphill from St. Helena and the Krug vineyards.

“At the beginning I’d just do basic analysis in the lab and would wash glasses and sample bottles. As I got older I got more in-depth with all the analysis and then my father would always in- The family’s patriarch clude me in all the and matriarch, Cesare tastings. He would and Rosa Mondavi, purchased the Charles educate me and ex- Krug Winery in 1943, plain to me why this which is now one of particular wine had the biggest around St. Helena and the Napa a problem, what Valley. (CHRIS COCOLES) 48 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

the problem was and how you could pick out that problem – whether it was taste or aromatics – although we’d like to say we were perfect all the time. He was very emphatic about tasting wines. I remember it was taste, taste and taste and I would say, ‘Dad, I can only taste so many wines.’”

But generally, that’s who Peter Mondavi Sr. was.

“They worked a lot harder than they played. Fundamentally, they were workaholics,” Marc, who will turn 62 on July 4, says of his elders.

The winery’s patriarch, Cesare and his wife, Rosa, came from eastern Italy’s Marche region, near the Adriatic Sea coast about 3½ hours southeast of Florence. They lived in Minnesota before settling in California’s Central Valley community of Lodi. It was there, during Prohibition in the 1920s, that Cesare began harvesting and shipping grapes. At age 60 he purchased the winery named for Prussian immigrant Charles Krug, the Napa Valley winemakers’ founding father in what would grow into one of the world’s signature locales of the industry.

Marc and his younger brother Peter Jr. – they also have an older sister – learned the ropes of the process early on, but while Peter Sr. was a no-nonsense businessman, he made sure to introduce Marc to more than just the harvesting of grapes.

“Dad would take us fishing when we were little kids, but to tell the truth, if he didn’t have any kids, he would have probably fished three days a year and worked the other 362,” Marc says. “(But) he enjoyed it and he wanted to pass on the love of the outdoors and fishing to us.”

Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierras became a getaway spot for the Mondavis when they needed a break

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BAY AREA from winemaking. They had a cabin around South Shore and spent a lot of time there in winter on the nearby ski slopes. But summer visits meant trolling for Mackinaw in their boat.

“My dad never, ever used a guide; he did it all by himself. This was all predownriggers and he used leadcore line; we’d troll Ford Fenders – the big flashers – and then we’d put a minnow through the hook,” Marc Mondavi says.

“He had three spots. I don’t know how he found them, but one of them was near Ski Run Boulevard, the road that goes up to Heavenly Valley. You’d be out in the lake a mile and a half or 2 miles offshore and you’d line straight

Marc had a headstart in knowing how backbreaking the life would be before he majored in viticulture and enology at UC Davis. Among his influences was Maynard Amerine, a university professor there, as well as legend in the industry. When Amerine passed away in 1998 at the age of 87, he was referred to in his obituary as no less than “the father of American wine” by The New York Times.

There was one piece of advice Amerine gave the college student that stuck with him: Don’t assume you have it made.

“He would tell students, ‘Trust me that you guys are going to get out there and think that you know a lot, but it’s going to take you 10 years minimum before you’re comfortable with your palate or your judgment in the wine-

Mondavi is a diehard sportsman, having fished and hunted throughout North America and down into South America. He’s also served as vice president of communications for the Boone and Crockett Club. (MARC MONDAVI)

up with Ski Run and you’d just troll back and forth. We didn’t catch big ones, but we’d catch quite a few 22- to 24-inchers. I think the biggest one I can remember was 10 pounds.”

Sometimes, Peter would take the kids on wilderness drop camps in the El Dorado National Forest’s Desolation Valley. They would pack in their gear via horseback, hike to remote lakes and streams and bring back enough trout to fry up that night for dinner.

These adventures became the perfect placebo for the workaholic to escape the winery and spend time with his kids.

“Farming is tough and there’s not much rest. When the sun’s shining, you have to make hay, man, and you have to be out there farming,” Marc Mondavi says. “And even on Saturday and Sunday you’ve got the tractors going trying to get things done. When it rains, sure, you get a day off. But you can’t go out and play golf – at least not comfortably.”

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making world,’” Mondavi says. “And he was absolutely right. I’d always second-guess myself early on: ‘Should I do something different?’ And it was finally about 11 years later when I finally realized, ‘You know what you’re doing.’ Experience is worth your weight in gold.”

While his family’s winery bears a local legend’s name, the Mondavis have made their own mark in the Napa Valley and done it together as a family, which is a common thread throughout Napa County. So many Mondavi contemporaries started the same way and have passed along the baton to children and grandchildren.

“He grew up in the industry and in the winery,” Janice Mondavi says, “and being able to combine some of the (outdoor) sports with the profession I think is really exceptional; we’re fortunate and lucky.”

But while Marc has proven to be as adept a winemaker and angler as his father, his love for cultivating what grows above ground in the valley is matched by how he feels about seeking out what’s below it.

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BAY AREA

Mondavi demonstrates his unique ability to use divining rods to sense if there’s a potential underground water source. He has assisted plenty of neighbors in their search for wells. (CHRIS COCOLES)

BESIDES HIS FOUR LOVING daughters, Mondavi’s pride and joy are his bottles of his own personal brand, Divining Rod, available in chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and Divine Red. He hopes to produce 40,000 cases of Divining Rod this year.

The label features what resembles two crossed poles, a hand with an eye in the center – which represents “perception beyond ordinary sight … the sixth sense of intuition,” as his website (thediviningrod.com) explains – and the words ex aqua vinum, Latin for from water comes wine.

It’s the two poles, or divining rods, that pay homage to Mondavi’s skills among the valley as a dowser, a person capable of walking through a field with y- or l-shaped divining or dowsing rods and sensing if a potential water source is below the surface.

“It’s an energy that you have in your body. And, believe it or not, roughly 50 percent of the human population has some ability. Now, to have the strength and ability that I 52 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

have, only less than 1 percent of that 50 percent have it,” Mondavi says. “I’ve only run into two people who I can honestly say that with some training and experience that they can do it. Other people have a little bit, but they don’t have nearly what I have.”

That he discovered his magic touch came about by chance. As a teenager Mondavi dated a local girl from his high school and was at her Yountville house for dinner when her father changed everything.

“He could dowse and he would do it for family and friends on their vineyards. The old man grabbed me and said, ‘I’m going to see if you have the ability to dowse,’” he recalls. “He would use willow forks and put a little tension on them and see if we could find underground water and we started walking through the vineyard, and sure enough, the point goes down and he said, ‘Yeah, you got it.’ I went, ‘Great.’ I never thought anything about it.”

A few years later after graduating from Davis and work-

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ing full time for Charles Krug, one of the vineyards near Yountville needed to find a well for a water source. Mondavi called one of three old-timers around St. Helena and Yountville who were bonafide water witches, Frank Wood, known to everyone in the valley as Laurie.

During the call, Mondavi told Laurie, “By the way, I can do it and have the ability, but I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Well, I’ll teach you,” the dowser told him.

The two met on the ranch on a Saturday, with Laurie bringing two sets of copper rods and giving his pupil a tutorial on the art of water divining. Laurie was just the mentor young Mondavi needed to hone the skills he wasn’t sure he had and became a younger version of this local folk hero.

Soon enough, Laurie and Mondavi became kindred spirits, joining each other on trips from vineyard to vineyard, giving the landowners advice on the depth to where they should drill and giving more than reasonable estimates on the number of gallons they can hope to produce.

“Laurie called me one time and said, ‘Marc, we’re going against some geologists.’ It was a substantial property with lots of hills. Laurie and I staked a spot and marked it,” Mondavi recalls. “And the geologists found a spot 600 yards away and so the owner drilled. He wanted water. He said, ‘OK, I’m going to drill where you guys say and the geologists say.’ When it was done we doubled the amount of water that the geologists got.”

It was about as scientific a guess as any farmer could hope for. There are no guarantees in this process, but it’s the closest they could come to a logical projection.

“Early on it was like winemaking; when you witch a property for somebody and you tell them you’re going to drill a $100,000 hole there and you’re not confident you’re going to hit water, that’s a big check to have hanging over your head,” Mondavi says. “But it’s like anything – you do it enough and you record what you say is going to be there, and after they drill it you find out exactly what’s there. Time builds confidence and ability.”

What started out as a pro bono gig for helping friends and family find underground water sources – “Give me a cold beer and I’m happy,” he jokes – became a little more in time. Wood passed away in 2011, as had all the other well-known dowsers in the area. So now it’s Mondavi who is getting calls from local property owners. It’s a flattering compliment to be in demand and use his special skills to find water. His oldest daughter Angelica can break out the divining rods and sense where a field has some water.

That California has endured an historic drought that the state seems to be just beginning to recover from only adds to the importance of unearthing new water wells.

“Water is a big issue in California. That’s why I’ve been busy on this water divining. I won’t say all farmers (depend on water divining), but most farmers in America will use a dowser before they drill a well,” Mondavi says. “You’re always going to have skeptics but the majority will use a dowser.”

“The common scenario I’ve run into with the drought is even if the wells haven’t gone dry, they’re not producing as well as they once did. They’re still producing but not as much. I say, spend the extra $2,000 and have it tested to know exactly how much water you have. And the other recommendation: If your well test says 20 gallons a minute, don’t put in a 20-gallon-a-minute pump. Ideally, you want to put half of what that well will produce, so you never remotely utilize 100 percent of the water.”

So not it’s an exact science for sure, but it’s a special feeling to know that Laurie’s tutelage has proven to be a divine intervention for a lot of Mondavi’s colleagues.

“It’s a SWAG, a scientific wild-ass guess, based on what’s coming out,” he 54 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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BAY AREA says. “But I just give my recommendation.”

And if Laurie had been around, he’d probably advise to listen to what the water dowser says.

HUNTING WAS NEVER A priority in Peter Mondavi Sr.’s life.

But a friend’s father taught Marc gun safety and then hunting when he was very young, and that also became

a lifelong hobby. He’s hunted big game in Canada and South America and would love someday to harvest a red stag, chamois and tahr in New Zealand. Closer to home, Mondavi makes an annual fall/winter trek to the Chico area to hunt waterfowl with a friend.

Always a conservation advocate, Mondavi has spent the previous five years as Boone and Crockett Club vice

ALL ABOUT THE FLY Marc Mondavi shared this memory of a fishing trip with his late father, Peter Mondavi Jr.: “One of the trips I’ll never forget was at Davis Lake (in the Sierras). I was little and we went camping. Nobody was doing very well; everyone would catch one fish, two fish. But there was a gentleman camped next to us and Dad was sociable. He always had wine, so he went over to the guy and said, ‘Come on over and have a glass of wine.’ My dad was saying, ‘Man, we fished all day today and among the three of us we caught four trout. Is there a trick?’ And the guy goes, ‘There is a trick.’ So he walks back to his camp and he gives us four flies and they were identical.”

“We had a rubber raft with no motor. But he said, ‘Just tie it on and use about 4-pound mono’ – which is what we had – ‘and slow-troll it. If you only have a tube with paddles, you don’t have to work. Just slow-troll.’”

“So my dad goes, ‘Really?’ Just let out plenty of line and it’s going to sink maybe 1 or 2 feet. It was a wet fly and I think it was the north end where it gets shallow there at only 4 to 6 feet. And he said, ‘Just start trolling around.’ And we hammered them.”

“We came back to the dock and my dad was embarrassed when everyone asked, ‘How did you do?’ ‘We did … pretty good.’

They’d say, ‘God, we only caught two.’ And these were nice rainbows – 16 to 18 inches and fat. We didn’t have any other gear on – just the fly. It was a little bit more than a drift. But, man, it worked. I told my dad that were going into town to find a fly that looks just like that.” CS

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BAY AREA president of communications before recently stepping aside, though he’s still on the board of the venerable organization.

“How do I fit it all in?” he jokes.

It’s is a rather hectic lifestyle, Janice and their four “How do I fit it all in?” asks vintner-sportsman Mondavi, here with his wife Janice and surrounded by their personal vineyards near St. Helena. “I’m blessed.” (CHRIS COCOLES)

daughters live. Like their father, grandfather and uncle before them, wine has also been a major component in

Angelina’s, Riana’s, Alycia’s and Giovanna’s lives. The three oldest ladies are currently working in the industry.

And Giovanna, a recent graduate of Northeastern University who stayed in Boston for a sales job at a communications company, has hinted about getting back into the family business down the line.

“We had big hopes but didn’t push any of that. We let the girls follow in their own paths,” Janice says. “One was a paralegal for a while. Another one thought she was going to forensic science when she was a chemistry major and then realized she’d be in a lab and indoors all the time and decided winemaking was a little bit more unusual.”

It’s tough to argue with the office décor. Even on a recent spring Monday with traffic clogging up Highway 29 through Napa, Yountville and finally St. Helena and tourists crashing tasting rooms at seemingly every corner – think Las Vegas Boulevard with winery after winery rather than theme hotel after theme hotel – this is a hauntingly beautiful and charming valley to work and live.

The Mondavis know that better than anyone. They’ve lived on their gorgeous homestead since 2001. Besides the occasional plane taking off or landing at the adjacent air strip or a farmhand’s tractor sputtering, the place is the picture of peace. Angelina Mondavi got married there

The Rio Vista area of the Delta produced these fine limits of stripers. (FISHHOOKERS SPORTFISHING)

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last month before everyone headed down the hill for a vino-infused reception at the winery.

“I’m blessed. We grew up in a tight-knit family and we’ve brought our girls up that way,” says Marc, who is proud he was able to get his kids involved in the outdoors as well.

When Janice was eight months pregnant with Angelina, she caught a 57-pound king salmon on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula (Marc says he’s caught four 60-pluspound Chinook on his trips there).

Janice and her friends also take an annual women-only fly fishing and wine-tasting getaway.

The family also heads north together to a rickety, “funky” three-bedroom cabin near Mount Lassen – “When I say funky, there isn’t a level floor in it,” Mondavi quips – with five streams filled with native trout a short distance away.

So yeah, life is good, and even towards the end Peter Mondavi Sr. enjoyed his time on the water after literally enjoying the fruits of his labor growing grapes and transforming them into one of the valley’s premier wine labels.

“He was fly fishing in Idaho when he turned 100,” Marc says. “He was fanatical. We’d be fixing breakfast and he’d say, ‘Come on! We have to go; the fish are biting.’ It’s 6 in the morning and we’d say, ‘Dad, just chill out; it’s a little too cool.’ But you know what? He’d fish (and keep fishing) and literally we’d have to say, ‘Dad, we’re going in. It’s 5:30, 6 and we need to fix dinner.’ He’d say, ‘Really? We have to go now?’ He was a diehard.”

That love, whether it’s for wine, water, the outdoors or each other, is infectious among this family. CS Editor’s note: For more on Charles Krug Winery, go to charleskrug.com. Check out Marc Mondavi’s Divining Rod wines at diviningrod.com, facebook.com/TheDiviningRod, Twitter and Instagram (@TheDiviningRod).

60 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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CENTRAL VALLEY

CAT FIGHT!

SPINNING GEAR, SOME OILY BAIT, THREAD AND A HOOK ARE ENOUGH TO GET YOU STARTED BATTLING BIG WHISKERFISH THIS SUMMER

By Tim E. Hovey

T

he first really big fish I ever caught was a catfish.

I was fishing with a bunch of my cousins during a family camping trip and soaking a nightcrawler.

Thankfully, my drag was set extremely loose or the strike and subsequent run would’ve snapped the line of the unattended rod.

Author Tim Hovey has caught giant catfish throughout his life, including these days with his wife and daughters. These whiskered monsters are ubiquitous throughout California’s low-elevation lakes and relatively easy to catch. (TIM E. HOVEY) calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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CENTRAL VALLEY From farm ponds to irrigation canals to reservoirs, the Central Valley, coastal areas and Southland host numerous opportunities to plunk for and battle catfish. (TIM E. HOVEY)

The rod was in a bank holder and the reel screamed against the drag as the big channel cat headed out, likely setting the hook on itself. I wrestled the spinning rod out of the holder and tried to stop the fish on 8-pound test. The brute at the end of my line did whatever he wanted. Finally, after 15 minutes of running up and down the bank and worrying about breaking him off, I was able to tail-grab him in the shallows.

The 16-pound channel catfish was by far the largest freshwater fish I had ever caught. Since that time, I’ve fished for all species of catfish in just about any lake available.

CATCHIN’ CATS ON BAIT As with any type of fishing, there are several effective ways to fish for catfish, and most involve soaking bait. Over the years, I’ve settled on an easy and effective technique that has always put whiskerfish on the stringer.

After educating myself on how catfish feed, I began using baits that are full of scent. Catfish have tastebuds and sensory organs located all over their body. They rely almost exclusively on scent detection to feed. Oily fish like mackerel and anchovies have a strong odor and are perfect for attracting catfish to the bait.

To fish this type of bait correctly, you’ll need to soak them in areas where even slight water movement will spread out the scent and hopefully attract cats. Small bays or near areas where debris piles up in the water are great choices. Wind movement on the main lake will move water in and out of small bays, making these spots great areas for soaking baits.

To make my fishing time easier, I’ll prepare the bait before the trip.

I’ll cut mackerel into larger cubes of about three-quarters of an inch on a side. I’ll store them in a small plastic container and freeze them 64 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

CENTRAL VALLEY until needed. Grabbing a precut piece of bait is far easier than trying to cut up a thawing, squishy mackerel on the bank.

Using a large bait hook, I’ll run the hook through the bait and then twist the hook and thread it back through the bait.

Even with the firmest of baits, you may have a difficult time keeping chunks of fish on the hook after the cast, so I borrow a surf fishing technique: I use black thread to keep the bait in place on the hook.

After the bait is hooked, peel off 18 inches of black thread and start wrapping it tightly around the hooked bait. You don’t need to tie it on the bait; you just need to wrap it tightly. Once you’re finished, the bait should sit securely on the hook and not fly off after the cast.

You don’t need a lot of fancy gear to catch catfish. Author Tim Hovey eschews using a weight on his line and wraps sewing thread around his oily piece of precut bait to keep it from falling off the hook. (TIM E. HOVEY)

66 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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CENTRAL VALLEY One of the biggest fish young Jessica Hovey’s ever caught was this massive channel cat, which tired her out after a long battle. Catfish can bite lightly, but when you hook one, get ready! (TIM E. HOVEY)

LOSING WEIGHT When I’m fishing for catfish, I’ll fish without using any weight if I can get away with it. I rely on the bait to be

68 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

the weight. I’m a firm believer that catfish are sensitive to the feel of a dragging weight and will drop the bait if they detect any resistance.

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CENTRAL VALLEY Using a spinning outfit, the mass of the bait is easily enough weight to cast out, and feeding catfish will not detect any drag if you go weightless. I know plenty of anglers who add weight and do well. I just believe that I can catch more and larger fish using no weight.

After the cast, I’ll place the rod in a holder and either loosen the drag so that line can be easily pulled from the reel or leave the bail open. I’ll pull line off the rod so that it hangs loosely. When a fish picks up the bait and swims off, bites can be detected as the line feeds out.

CATS WAITING A few years ago I took my family up to Lake Santa Margarita for a camping trip. The lake level was extremely low and the fishing reports had been poor, but we were all game to chase catfish. After we unloaded our camping gear, we headed to the lake to try our luck.

The weed-choked parking area clearly illustrated a lack of use. We grabbed our gear and started hiking down to the water. We walked a few hundred yards down to the lake, passing fish skeletons and abandoned boats that hadn’t seen water in years. At the shore we spread out and started fishing the large bay.

Using our precut mackerel and thread, we cast our offerings into the lake. I watched each of my daughters lean

70 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

their rods against anything they could find on the shore. It almost seemed like the catfish were waiting for us.

Alyssa, my oldest, hooked up first. I saw her walk over to her fishing rod and gently pick it up. She pointed the tip towards the water and waited. I didn’t see the line peel out but noticed the bend in her rod when she set the hook.

I walked over and watched as she fought what was on the other end. Within a few minutes, she had the 7-pound channel cat twisting in the shallows. I grabbed the tail and pulled it ashore. At the time, it was Alyssa’s largest fish.

We caught a few smaller catfish during our quick evening bank session, but with darkness coming down, we gathered our gear and headed back to camp.

IN FOR A FIGHT Early the next morning we were back at our spot casting bait for catfish. Like most siblings involved in the same activity, my daughters are highly competitive. While Jessica had caught a catfish the evening before, she desperately wanted to catch one bigger than Alyssa’s.

Alyssa hooked up first that morning, followed by my wife, Cheryl. Both fish were small and released. Jessica was feeling a little down that she hadn’t caught anything yet. Although I reminded her that I still hadn’t hooked up either, that didn’t help. After our pep talk, I watched her slowly walk over towards her rod, still dejected.

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CENTRAL VALLEY there, she made it very clear she wanted to land the fish herself. I stood back and offered encouragement with the knowledge that Jessica would determine whether the fish was landed or lost.

For the next 10 minutes, the fish did whatever it wanted and Jessica just hung on. She was pulled up and down the bank several times before the fish started to tire. Instead of raising the rod to gain line, Jessica would walk backwards and then reel as she slowly walked towards the fish. She was gradually gaining line and pulling it towards the shallows when I got my first glimpse of the large catfish. Its big head appeared in the shallows, shaking violently trying to dislodge the hook. The fish then turned and once again headed for With the expected summer heat cooking the valley from Sacramento to Badeeper water. kersfield, nighttime or early-morning anglers can target several lakes and A few minutes later, a tired Jessica waterways in the region. The Fresno Bee reported some solid catfishing can pulled the fish near the shallow bank and be had in the Delta Mendota Canal and its adjacent sloughs, as well as Lake I grabbed it by the tail. She dropped her Isabella northeast of Bakersfield. According to the Bee, other lakes worth rod and came over wanting to hold the gidunking a line in include Hensley Lake near Madera, and Lake Kaweah and ant fish. She struggled with the 15-pound Lake Success in Tulare County. channel cat, but she was finally able to Further north near Stockton, the four Mother Lode-area lakes – Camanhold it herself. che, New Hogan, Pardee and Amador, are longtime catfish staples, along We loaded a cooler with water and with Lake McClure and New Melones Lake. But it’s likely you’ll find plenty of drove back to camp to show the rest of the opportunities when traveling up and down the Central Valley on Highway 99 family.

A proud Jessica described the battle or Interstate 5 to find a lake with catfish. CS

When Jessica got about 10 feet from her fishing rod resting against a log, I watched as the tip bent towards the water. Before she could get there, the rod flipped over the log and was dragged towards the lake. She grabbed it before it got to the water and set the hook sharply. As soon as the fish felt the steel, he took off, Jessica’s reel screaming as she did all she could just to hang on.

I raced down the shore to give her a hand. When I got

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CENTRAL VALLEY

Alyssa Hovey’s 7-pounder is typical of the catfish to be had throughout Central California and beyond, where fishing early in the morning or in the evening can make for some great action and memories. (TIM E. HOVEY)

at the bank and she couldn’t stop smiling. After that, we drove back to the lake and released the large fish. To this day, that short trip to the lake remains one of our best freshwater fishing trips.

CATCH ‘EM ANYWHERE Catfish are available in just about any low-elevation lake in California. I’ve personally caught large ones in Lopez, Piru, Castaic, Casitas, Santa Margarita, Nacimiento and San Antonio. While they will hit a variety of baits, I’ve had the best luck with oily ones like mackerel and ancho74 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

vy. Using my tried-and-true black thread method and no weight, I’ve landed some absolute monster catfish in the local lakes.

Fishing for catfish is relaxing and very easy for kids.

The potential for landing large fish is just a cast away. A lighter spinning outfit and a few hooks are all you really need to get started.

As summer heats up, grab a lawn chair and a rod and plan a trip to a local lake to fish for the monsters of the deep with your family. Smiling kids will be your reward. CS

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395 STORE

The 395 Store, also known as Alpine Signs in Bishop, California, has been an Eastern Sierra landmark for 11 years.

Owners Joe and Caryn Todd moved to Bishop from Southern California in 2005.

Alpine Signs has created storefront signs, wood signs, metal signs, vehicle graphics, banners, stickers and more for the Owens Valley area. The Official 395 Store provides souvenirs for tourists relating to Highway 395 and the Eastern Sierra.

Souvenirs for every outdoor sport are available including fishing, skiing, snow boarding, hiking, camping and rock climbing. Souvenirs include signs, stickers, magnets, shirts, coffee mugs, key chains and more.

If you would like to take a piece of the 395 home with you, stop by the Official 395 Store on your next trip through Bishop, as it is truly a one of a kind store. If you don’t have a Highway 395 trip planned, you can buy online at 395store.com.

(760) 873-5078 • www.395store.com

76 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

SIERRAS

EASTERN SIERRA FISHING TAKING OFF AFTER A SLOW START, THE TROUT ARE BEGINNING TO BITE IN HIGH-COUNTRY LAKES AND STREAMS

Jessica Strickland fishes Hot Creek in May, when fishing in the Eastern Sierra really seemed to pick up steam. With summer upon us, the trout should keep on biting. (MONO COUNTY TOURISM)

By Chris Cocoles

S

ummer fishing in the Eastern Sierras could be peaking at the right time.

Prospects should be really good in lakes like Crowley and Lower Twin Lakes, the West Walker River and Bridgeport Reservoir. Some of the big events this month include the annual How Big is Big derby on the West Walker River (July 1-31) and the Bridgeport Fish Fest at Twin Lakes (July 29).

We caught up with Jeff Simpson, the economic devel-

opment manager for Mono County and a veteran Eastern Sierras angler, for an update on what trout fishermen can expect this month.

Chris Cocoles How has the trout season gone around Mono County?

Jeff Simpson Excellent! It was a fairly slow start until about the second week of May, when the fishing really picked up.

Increased stocking by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Mono County Trophy Trout stocking program from Desert Springs Trout Farm have helped tremendously calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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SIERRAS and will continue to boost fishing conditions into the summer.

Gull Lake, part of the June Lake Loop off Highway 158, has been one of the top trout producers so far this season. (MONO COUNTY TOURISM)

CC Has the weather cooperated and what does its bode for later this summer?

JS Conditions can change dramatically from day to day in the Eastern Sierra. We had a great run of high temperatures to start the month of June that have really helped fishing conditions. We are seeing a lot of water making its way down from the snowmelt in the high Sierra, and that should keep water temperatures down through July and August.

CC Any pleasant surprises in fisheries that have performed better than what was expected?

JS Crowley Lake, Gull Lake and Lower Twin Lakes out of Bridgeport have been the early winners so far this year. A 17-pound brown was caught and released out of Lower Twin Lakes on May 18 by Dan Stewart.

CC Tell us about the West Walker River and what to expect there this month with the How Big Is Big derby there all of July?

JS The West Walker River is full of water right now as the snow from Sonora Pass makes its way down the valley. The cubic feet per second should stabilize by mid-June and conditions should improve dramatically. The Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with Desert Springs Trout Farm to bring in some big fish for the tournament that runs through the entire month of July.

Stop in the Walker General Store to redeem your tagged fish and get derby details.

CC How do the big lakes like Crowley, Convict, Bridgeport Reservoir, Twin Lakes, etc., look?

JS I haven’t seen these lakes look this full and fish this well since be78 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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SIERRAS fore the drought started! As of June 11, water has made it up and past the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park & Marina.

Anglers are reporting 10 to 15 ďŹ sh per day, with the occasional 3- to 5-pound ďŹ sh in deeper waters.

CC Any tips for y anglers such as patterns or y types that might work well?

Dan Stewart caught this gorgeous 17-pound Twin Lakes brown earlier this season. There are more where that one came from in various ďŹ sheries. (TWIN LAKES RESORT)

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR HOSTS KOKANEE EVENT One of the Lake Tahoe area’s top kokanee lakes has struggled through California’s drought to maintain its water level, but the lake is hanging in there and will host Kokanee Power’s latest event, the Stampede Reservoir Team Kokanee Derby on July 16 at the lake just outside Truckee.

Despite a big rain and snow season, Stampede has been slow to recover to its normal levels, and on June 22 the Sacramento Bee reported that the lake was at 46 percent capacity. Still, the newspaper reported kokanee ďŹ shing as good at one of the Sierra’s most productive ďŹ sheries for the species.

The Kokanee Power (kokaneepower.org) tournament has a $45 entry fee for members and $55 for nonmembers (plus a free junior division contest). Assuming there will be 125 total entries, $600 is expected to go to the winning team, with payouts also for the top 15 entries.

Registrations will be accepted by phone (888–744-8150) or you can ďŹ ll out an entry form online (kokaneepower.org /derbies). Email tournament chairman John Minnis at info@ kokaneepower.org for more information. CS

JS We really recommend that y ďŹ shermen check out the local ďŹ shing reports from various professional guide services. Tom Loe with Sierra Drifters Guide Service (sierra

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SIERRAS drifters.com) has a detailed weekly update with loads of tips. Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport has a great website and Facebook page (KensSport.com). For a complete list of ďŹ shing guides/reports, go to monocounty.org/ďŹ shing-reports.

Convict Lake can provide some peaceful moments, but expect a lot of ďŹ shing pressure this month as visitors ock to the Sierras. (MONO COUNTY TOURISM)

CC For ďŹ rst-timers headed to the Eastern Sierra, where would you suggest they go in July for the best chance to have a good ďŹ shing experience.

JS There are a few places that are great for ďŹ rst-timers and have plenty of ďŹ sh to get them hooked on ďŹ shing. The Mammoth Lakes Basin, Twin Lakes in Bridgeport, Virginia Lakes, Lundy Lake and any lake or stream along the June Lake Loop are all great places to start. We always recommend stopping into a local tackle shop to ask what’s working and what to expect out on the water. CS Editor’s note: For more on Mono County ďŹ shing information, go facebook.com/VisitEasternSierra or monocounty.org/ďŹ shing.

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BOAT INSURANCE AGENCY With summer, boaters are out in full force on California’s fresh- and saltwaters. Here are a few tips for staying safe this season: BEFORE YOU GO • Consult the checklist. Make sure you have all necessary safety equipment. Make sure fire extinguishers aboard are in working order and gauges register and nozzles are clear. Make sure that all passengers know where safety equipment is and how to operate it.

• During refueling, close all hatches, ports and other openings; shut off all engines and motors; and refrain from smoking. Fill all portable tanks on the dock.

• Operate the bilge blower for at least four minutes before starting an inboard engine. If you smell fumes, don’t start the engine.

Find out what is causing them and make repairs before starting the engine.

• Don’t go out if weather conditions are bad or storms threaten. In most areas, you can call directory assistance and ask for the local marine weather broadcast telephone number to get a complete weather forecast before you set out.

• Leave a float plan with someone. A float plan is an easy way to avoid unnecessary search-and-rescue missions and may save your life. Fill out your float plan and leave it with a responsible person. If you are seriously overdue, they should only notify local authorities. Cancel the float plan when you return ashore.

• Make sure that flammable items are stowed safely and cannot come into contact with cooking or heating appliances or hot engine parts.

• Be sure heating and cooking appliances on board are secured and operate properly.

• Distribute weight properly, especially if you have a small boat. Do not overload. Load low and spread the load around.

WHILE YOU ARE BOATING • Be especially careful if you have a small boat (20 feet or under). The overwhelming majority of capsizings occur on small boats because of sudden weight shifts.

• Keep a good lookout. Failure to do so causes most collisions. You need a second person to act as lookout if towing a skier. The lookout should indicate a fallen skier by raising a brightly colored flag.

• Travel at safe speeds. Give swimmers, skiers and divers a wide berth.

• Don’t ride on the bow or gunwales. Also, never ride on seatbacks or in other unsteady positions.

• Always use lights in fog, bad weather and at night. In fog or areas of reduces visibility, you must give a prolonged, 4- to 6-second blast at least once every two minutes.

• Know who has the right of way. In general, large boats, tugs, barges and fishing vessels have the right way over other boats. Sailboats, rowboats and canoes have the right of way over motorboats. Any boat being overtaken (passed) has the right of way.

• Pay attention to markers. The expression “red right returning” has long been used as a reminder that the red buoys should be on the right – the starboard side of our boat – when proceeding from the open sea into the dock (upstream). Likewise, green buoys are left – to the port side – when going upstream. For more information on the nautical traffic signs in your area, contact local boating officials.

• If you are in distress or are observing another vessel in distress, transmit the international distress call on VHF channel 16, “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!” State your vessel’s name, where you are, what is wrong, kind of assistance needed and your listening frequency and schedule. The Coast Guard also monitors CB and channel 9 whenever resources permit such monitoring.

VHF channel 16 is constantly monitored.

• Choose a safe spot to anchor, one that’s well protected, has water of a suitable depth and a flat bottom. Never anchor from the stern.

• Don’t pollute the water with leaking oil or fuel, litter or toilet discharge. It’s illegal to pollute.

• If you are involved in an accident, you must provide your name, address and vessel registration number to other involved parties, provide assistance to any injured person, and in case of death or disappearance, report the accident without delay to law enforcement officials.

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88 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

s e r u t n e Adv e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what’s he’s been up to. – The Editor

W

June was a fun month as summer has kicked into full swing. School is out and the fish are active. I was blessed to take a family trip to Fiji, where my family and I stayed on Tavarua Island. I have been to Tavarua 13 times and, I swear, it is the best place in the world. (TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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FISHING Brought To You By:

The Fijians are the coolest people, the fishing is great, the water is amazing and the surf is perfect. While we were there on our trip, the surf on the final day was the biggest I have ever seen it at Cloudbreak. The photo does not give it justice, but it’s not a bad shot considering it was taken on my phone while sitting on a boat in the channel. (TODD KLINE)

90 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

91

FISHING Brought To You By:

This month we saw good fishing here in Southern California. I had a steady flow on guide trips and my clients sampled fun fishing throughout the month. Most of the fish have been in postspawn and the Senko, a Texas-rigged Roboworm and an underspin did most of the damage for us. Most of the trips were on Lake Perris or Diamond Valley. Now that we have enough water back into Diamond Valley Lake, we can launch our boats again.

I even got to get out on DVL with former NBA star Brian Shaw, an Oakland native who played for, among other teams, the Lakers and Warriors, and was also head coach of the Denver Nuggets. Brian and I have been friends for many years, and we spent a fun day on the water filming for a future episode of Stoked On Fishing. Brian loves his fishing and we had a blast together.

92 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

California forests are threatened by nonnative insects and diseases. These invasive species can be transported on firewood to new areas where they can become established and kill large numbers of trees.

• Leave firewood at home – buy or collect firewood where you camp.

• Use firewood in the same county or region where it was cut.

• Locate local firewood vendors at firewoodscout.org.

• Bring only what you’ll need, and burn responsibly.

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calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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FISHING Brought To You By:

My son recently turned 9 years old and wants to start fishing more. He asked me if I would take him fishing when summer started and I said of course. We headed to Lake Perris and he lost about a 3-pounder in the first 15 minutes of fishing, which really bummed him out. It bummed him out so much he even wanted to go home.

After having a quick chat with him, he regrouped and landed his first cast to catch the largemouth of his life; he was stoked! On that trip to Perris, I managed to catch a nice largemouth on a prototype of the Savage Gear Rat, a bait that is deadly to bass. It’s safe to say we had an epic day on the water.

94 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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FISHING

Last year I started saltwater fishing more, and this year I am picking up where I left off. My good friend Ty Ponder and I made a run down the Mexican coast for some calico bass. We had a fun day of fishing, catching a ton of bass up to 6 pounds. The following weekend, Ty and I fished the Saltwater Bass Series tournament out of Long Beach. This was a spotted bay bass tournament and we were able to take out the win with a five-fish limit at just shy of 10 pounds.

We managed six keepers all day, with most of our fish being caught on the A-rig. I hope June was a good month for you as well and I hope to see you on the water soon!

Editor’s note: For more details on fishing in Southern California or to see more of Todd’s fishing photos, please go to toddklinefishing .com or follow him on Instagram (@toddokrine).

96 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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SOCAL

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK GIANT BLUEFIN NUMBERS ARE MATCHING THOSE FROM THE GOOD OLD DAYS; UPSIZE YOUR YO-YO JIGS FOR YELLOWTAIL

So many giant tuna were caught in June off Southern California that the fishing was reminiscent of the old days, when 100-pound fish were common. (BUZZ BRIZENDINE)

By Steve Carson

A

century or more ago, bluefin over 100 pounds were relatively common in California waters. But an argument could be made that June 2016 saw more of these big fish landed than ever before, and there is no doubt that more 200-plus-pound fish were caught than at any time in the state’s history.

Indeed, last month saw unprecedented numbers of bluefin tuna moving into Southern California and northern Baja waters.

The largest verified weight as of mid-June was 235 pounds, just shy of the 30-year-old “official” state record of 243 pounds. Even the legendary Tuna Club of Avalon, having kept records since the late 1800s, had a long-standing record back in the old days of only 251 pounds from 1899.

Also somewhat new for this year has been the bluefin’s propensity to hit surface iron and poppers – both being unconventional techniques for the stock in California waters. The fish are in fast-moving schools, boiling aggressively for short periods and moving on, making them difficult for party boats to target but perfect for small boats.

Typical of the quality grade of tuna caught this year was

the 111-pounder landed by Capt. Buzz Brizendine, owner/operator of the Prowler out of Fisherman’s Landing in San Diego. He took a “busman’s holiday” aboard a private boat owned by Capt. Greg Trompas.

“We saw big spots of boiling fish,” Brizendine says. “A large broadbill swordfish even free-jumped near the boat; it was a spectacular sight. I cast into the breaking school and hooked the big fish on a two-speed Penn Fathom FTH25NLD2 reel filled with 65-pound Berkley Pro-Spec Braid and a short leader of 50-pound Pro-Spec Fluorocarbon. The fight took about 30 minutes.”

Brizendine went old school in catching the giant tuna.

“The lure was an old classic 20-year-old Salas Baby 5X in black/white sardine with red stripes. Trompas likes to modify the hooks, cutting off the stock 3/0 treble hook, and adding a pair of 7/0 Owner Dancing Stingers of slightly differing lengths so that they tangle less.”

Since the word leaked out about Trompas’ use of the Owner Dancing Stinger hooks, some industrious anglers have even been cutting and rebrazing the stock rings on their 7X and Tady 45 lures, then adding a set of the new Owner Dual Dancing Stingers, which are already a matched pair.

Topwater poppers have also emerged as a favorite for bluefin anglers this year, with several fish pushing 200 pounds being caught on them. Most topwater lures on the market were designed with striped bass and other midsize species in mind, so the hooks and split rings are not up to snuff for these monster fish.

Changing the factory-installed hooks to super-heavy-duty models like the Owner ST66, ST68 or even the massive ST76 trebles can ensure that the biggest fish of your life does not straighten the hooks out like paper clips. Also needed is a split ring upgrade, with the Owner Hyper Wire or Ultra Split Rings a requirement for larger-grade bluefin and other tuna species. calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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SOCAL larger-grade bluefin and other tuna species.

California’s new regulations that cut the daily bag limit on bluefin tuna down to two per day still seems unfairly restrictive, but when the fish are this size, even one is the catch of a lifetime!

UPSIZE YOUR JIGS WHEN YO-YOING FOR YELLOWTAIL So far in 2016, fishing with yo-yo jigs has been the most productive way to put yellowtail on the deck. Dropping jigs deep and cranking them back up as fast as possible is a pretty basic technique that has been used for many decades when chasing yellows.

Over the past 50-plus years, the favored jig has been the approximately 4½-ounce Salas 6X Junior and various similar models such as the Sumo JR. However, in 2015 and thus far in 2016, the fish have been hanging a little deeper, requiring anglers to step up to something a bit heavier. For this writer and many others, that choice has been the Tady 4/0, which weighs in at just under 7 ounces. This is just enough weight to get down to 200 feet or more without it tiring out the angler.

Although wind or heavy current could dictate the action, when push comes to shove, move up further to the Sumo 6 jig, which tips the scales at 8 ounces, or the Sumo 7X-heavy, which goes to 11 ounces. The heavier lures

definitely get down better but may present a challenge to anglers over 50 years old to keep cranking back at full speed over a long day of fishing. (FYI: There is no explaining why the lure numbers don’t correspond with the weights.)

As for colors, the most popular choices are the same as they have been for years: blue/white and scrambled egg (brown/yellow/white), along with dorado (blue/green/yellow/white). But mint green has made the jump from just being popular as a surface lure color to also being a popular choice for deep water yo-yoing.

The blue/chrome combina- Capt. Buzz Brizendine caught this 111-pound bluefin tuna tion is also popular in offshore in June on a surface jig, situations when bluefin or yel- fishing aboard a private vessel lowfin tuna may be encountered skippered by Greg Trompas out of Fisherman’s Landing in San mixed with the yellowtail. But Diego. (BUZZ BRIZENDINE) for inshore/nearshore applications, the blue/chrome tends to attract nontarget species such as barracuda and bonito. CS Editor’s note: Contact the author at scarson@sunset.net.

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SOCAL

DON’T LET THE BIG ONE GET AWAY G

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

WITH GIANT FISH BITING OFF THE SOCAL COAST, MAKE SURE YOUR GEAR IS UP TO THE TASK Jeff King hoists a giant 125-pound bluefin he caught on a popper 30 miles southwest of San Diego.

With fish of this caliber out there, it’s important to check your line before you go, as well as fish with gear stout enough to avoid losing the big one. (BILL SCHAEFER)

iant bluefin have Southern California’s saltwater anglers in a fishing frenzy. Schools of fish are ranging from 20 to 50 pounds and 50 to 100 pounds, and there’s a chance to reel in a few 100- to 200-pound monsters! A few over 200 pounds have even hit the scales.

The bluefin and yellowfin are thickest once you hit the 30- to 40-mile mark out of San Diego, but fish have been found as close as 10 miles at times.

Most of the bluefin are coming off breaking fish, so watch for groups of diving birds in the distance. You don’t want to approach them too fast, as you can put the baitfish down and the tuna along with them. If there’s a breeze, go upwind of the breaking fish and drift back into them.

A lot of fish are being taken on surface iron, but it’s a hard battle if you hook a giant and you have an 8- to 10foot rod. Drop to a 6- or 7-footer if you can still launch that iron; a plus is that it will be a bit better on your back. Some anglers are turning to spinning gear and a surface popper, but you had better be set up right, because if you hit a big fish, you just might watch all your line go bye-bye.

The big bluefin have some chompers on them and will saw through anything under 80-pound test in a minute or two. Try running braid in the 50- to 80-pound range – I prefer Maxima – with an 80- to 100-pound leader. I’m running a Daiwa Saltiga two-speed reel with a ton of line capacity. I can also downshift for an even stronger advantage over the fish. For poppers, I run the new Saltiga 5000H spinning reel. It too holds a ton of line and is built just for giant saltwater fish.

Just make sure you are prepared when heading out, because I have already heard a ton of stories about big ones that got away. When I’ve grilled the anglers, they admit they didn’t even change their line from years ago. It doesn’t matter if you are filled up with some great braid; you need to roll it off your reel and then wind it back on.

I run mine through an old damp washrag.

Also check your drags to make sure they’re not frozen up; otherwise, you are going to get smoked by these monster fish. CS

calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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CROSSROADS MINI MART AT LAKE ISABELLA Heading into July, there is lots of fishing being done on Lake Isabella.

The water has warmed up to the low 60s and brought on the bass bite, plus the crappie have restarted after cooling off with the weather.

Crappie is best fished on live minnows if they’re available. Last but not least, trout is still being stocked on a regular basis with a 10-pounder recently weighed in at Isabella Supermarket. Lake levels are closing in on 160,000 acre-feet and 500% over the year low, and Paradise Cove and Kissack Cove are both seeing water for the first time in two years.

Fourth of July weekend is always a great time to plan a trip to the lake. The highlight of the weekend is the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commercesponsored fireworks display, held this year on Saturday, July 2, for the enjoyment of over 10,000 visitors and locals alike.

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SOCAL

TAKE THE UNDER UNDERSPIN BAITS NOW A SOCAL BASS STAPLE

Essentially a leadhead jig with a swivel below the head that is attached to a spinner blade, underspin lures are a year-round option that many Southland bassers throw in pursuit of smallmouth and largemouth.

(COOLBAITS LURE COMPANY)

By Mike Stevens

T

hey don’t pop up much in official fishing reports or post-tournament recaps, and it turns out that’s by design as bass anglers down with underspins are plotting against us all to keep them under wraps.

Trouble is, in covering freshwater goings on in California on a weekly basis, I use a lot of guys without sparkly boats for on-the-water intel, and after the 1,000th time hearing about bass being caught on “underspins” – many times in situations where no one else is catching them – it was my responsibility, as a doctor of fishing journalism, to investigate.

They first popped up on my radar when trophy bass angler and SoCal guide Chip Gilbert (whom I currently share a backyard fence with) shouted from the rooftops about underspins, specifically the Coolbaits Underspin that’s produced in Riverside County’s Menifee.

“The Coolbaits Underspin is by far

calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

105

SOCAL the greatest finesse bait I have ever used,” Gilbert says.

“From the crystal-clear water of Diamond Valley Lake to the muddy, dark water of Lake Hodges, this underspin flat-out catches them.

“I like to fish it on 6-pound fluoro on a medium-action Phenix spinning rod in open water or along tule edges.

I’ll also fish it on 10-pound braid on the same rod while throwing into cover such as trees or grass flats,” he says.

“And it’s not just for smaller, schoolie-sized fish,” Gilbert adds. “I personally have caught largemouth to 9

familiar with.

The basic design is, regardless of whose version it is, a leadhead with a swivel of some kind below the head that is attached to a spinner blade. A trailer that’s usually plastic is added, and when the right trailer and head design are paired up, the blade spins during the retrieve without tangling the line or even touching the bottom of the trailer. That freely-spinning blade is key to the effectiveness of the bait.

Shawn Cooley of Menifee is the founder of Coolbaits Lures, and the Coolbaits Underspin is a direct result of ac-

Bass anglers are finding that underspins are versatile.

You can retrieve them quickly in the shallows or bounce them along the bottom like you would with a plastic worm.

(COOLBAITS LURE COMPANY)

pounds on it, and have heard of bigger being caught.”

“The bait itself is made from very high-quality parts from the swivel harness to the trailer keeper; everything is top notch, and they pair perfectly with the specially designed trailers made by Coolbaits as well,” he says.

It’s worth pointing out that Gilbert is a swimbait purist on a constant mission to track down double-digit bucketmouths, and the fact that he is even picking up a spinning rod, let alone a “finesse bait,” speaks volumes here.

SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE There is nothing really groundbreaking about the basic makeup of modern-day underspins, as they are simply cousins of the old-school (but still around) Blakemore Road Runners that most crappie anglers – or those of us who grew up watching Jimmy Houston Outdoors – are quite 106 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

knowledging the effectiveness of the likes of Road Runners but noticing there was a lot of room for improvement.

“I grew up throwing a Road Runner; that’s why I started finagling with them,” Cooley says. “They weren’t pretty and didn’t have much detail, so I set out to design the best-looking and most effective lure of this type.”

One thing that sets his baits apart from other underspin-type lures out there is the dual ball-bearing swivel that allows that blade to easily spin at the slowest retrieves. This is especially crucial during later postspawn times when bass are not looking to put a lot of effort into securing their next meal.

“Those largemouth want to rest and suspend,” Cooley said. “At lakes like Diamond Valley, they will find secondary structure offshore like main-lake points that drop off, flatten out and drop off again, and stage up there. I catch

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107

SOCAL a lot of these fish on a ‘tight line swing’ before I even start reeling as it ‘ticks’ slowly through a school of females.”

That is where the dual ball-bearing swivel is clutch, when the angler needs that blade to turn when the retrieve has yet to begin.

bass tournament director Billy Egan. “It’s no real secret anymore, but for some time, the underspin lure was something people just didn’t talk about. It lends itself to work many different areas in the water column and can be fished very effectively when trying to match the hatch.”

YEAR-ROUND SUCCESS FISH IT MULTIPLE WAYS Underspins are also very versatile and can be applied to a variety of situations. In my coverage of the region, I have heard of anything from ripping them through the shallows at DVL when fish are keyed in on slender inland silversides, to letting them sink before retrieving through suspending schools, to slow-rolling them or bouncing them along the bottom like a plastic worm.

“California is weird, what with all the different ‘stages of the spawn’ and fry in the water,” says Cooley. “One of our guys caught a ton of bass that were chasing shad at El Cap by fishing parallel to the bank 10 feet offshore.”

In California, Coolbaits Underspins have won in a competitive setting in every lake between San Diego and Lake Shasta. They have also propelled bassers on a national stage to the top of leaderboards all over the country, many of which were “backseat” anglers forced to fish open water as the front seater worked the bank.

“It’s been a secret tournament winner,” says longtime

108 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

As for the when, where and how to fish them, it’s hard to pick a bad time and place, and the gear they are fished on is almost entirely the angler’s preference. Gilbert likes his 6-pound fluoro or 10-pound braid, and while Cooley says that’s how a lot of anglers do it, he likes the stretch factor in mono because it adds some cushion when a big fish decides on a few more headshakes and a big run right at the boat.

“I use them when bass are suspended, mostly during winter and early spring,” says San Diego-based angler Michael Wolfe. “I normally use them in shallow areas near a good drop-off when I can find them on a graph and determine what depth they are holding at.

“I then position the boat above them since bass are always looking up to get an easy meal – and I always have better luck with them in clear water – and I fish them on 10-pound fluoro,” he says.

Wolfe spends a lot of time on highly pressured, crystal-clear San Diego lakes like Dixon and Poway, where a

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SOCAL lot of success stories have come from.

Along with the dual ball-bearing swivel, Coolbaits Underspins have a handful of upgrades when compared to similar lures. The wire “worm keeper” allows for the skinniest trailers to be rigged without splitting them in half like the typical lead “barb” keepers like to do. While the 1/8-ounce model is the current bread-and-butter option, bigger versions are being engineered all the way up to ½-ouncers that saltwater guys will also gobble up. Experimenting with the Mustad hooks is currently under way that will match up a 1/0 hook with the same thickness as a 3/0 or 4/0 that will, as Cooley put it, allow someone to land a “40-pound snook on a 1/8-ounce head.”

As for trailers, the tapered design of the Coolbaits trailer ensures that it doesn’t interfere with the blade, and smaller Keitech Easy Shiners, Roboshads and the small Zoom Flukes also fit the bill nicely.

“I pretty much use them all year,” adds Cooley. “I don’t leave home without them because I know it is something I can always catch a fish on. What doesn’t eat a minnow?” CS

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Fishing underspins in clear water may be a better option, but make no mistake, these lures should be a must-have in any tackle box no matter what the time of year or conditions. (COOLBAITS LURE COMPANY)

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SOCAL

TRAVEL SEASON FOR BASS

WORK THE SHORELINES EARLY TO SCORE LOTS OF LARGEMOUTH

By Bill Schaefer

A

s we head into summer, most all of the bass spawn, postspawn and even the postspawn blues are over.

Largemouth are schooling up and chasing shad, but maybe just not quite as aggressively as you would like. Don’t worry, it’s going to happen soon. It may happen in smaller packs or even loners roaming the banks in the morning and using the shore itself and the structure there to corral baitfish for breakfast.

Early-morning topwater action is a favorite of almost every bass angler, and right now is the time to take advantage of it. Keep your foot on the trolling motor and work your way down the bank in the gray light as the sun begins to come up. You will be rewarded with fish.

Don’t be afraid to throw that topwater bait right into the thick of things. I like to throw it in there and hope a fish eats it. With a fish on, you actually have a greater chance of getting the bait back in some instances.

The list of baits to throw in the early morning is endless, but I try a big one first. If the water has a slight ripple to it, it’s usually a buzzbait; a favorite of mine is a Booyah.

If the water’s glassy, I go to another larger bait, the Zara Spook or some other walking-style lure. Sometimes bass want a popping bait; the classic Pop-R is an old favorite.

You all have your go-to baits and they will all work if applied correctly.

If the fish are hitting topwaters but not sticking and are not being too aggressive, then you may want to dip just below the surface. Soft and hard jerkbaits can be devastating this time of year, working best right off the bat in the morning. Again, don’t be afraid to throw the baits right up in the shoreline brush. The braver you are, the more chance of fighting that big bass out of that cover.

As for tackle, I like the new Daiwa Tatula reels loaded with 50-pound braid on a matching 7½-foot Tatula rod.

The attack and the bite of the bass is reactionary, so you can go way up in line size and be able to yank that giant out of any cover. There is not as much reason to worry about line size when fishing reaction baits like topwaters and jerkbaits this time of year. A lot of the time you can follow another angler right down the bank and catch fish right behind him because you are being more aggressive with your casts. Now, go in and get some bass. CS

Author Bill Schaefer shows off a Booyahbiting bass. Largemouth will be on the move in the mornings in search of shad or other baitfish, and buzzbaits are a good way to tempt them. (BILL SCHAEFER) calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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When the bite is tough, the split-shot rig is one of the most effective rigs for catching black bass. It is an old-school Western finesse technique that doesn’t get talked about much anymore. Its beauty lies in both its ability to generate bites when seemingly nothing else will and in its simplicity.

In its purest form, the rig is comprised of a 4- to 6-inch finesse worm, a Gamakatsu Light Wire Worm Hook and a round nonremovable lead split-shot weight. While some anglers will fish it deeper, it excels down to about 30 feet when fished along clean banks and barren-looking points. –Mark Fong

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DESTINATION BIG BEAR Big Bear Lake is more than the lake. True, this playground in the San Bernardino Mountains is one of the Southland’s best high-elevation trout fisheries. But this is a place with endless activities. Located at an elevation of about 6,700 feet, Big Bear offers visitors looking to escape the heat of Los Angeles and the nearby Inland Empire with great scenery, boating, hiking, mountain biking and plenty of other outdoor activities to pursue. Check out the following pages for some great destinations to make up part of your Big Bear vacation.

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY BIG BEAR ALPINE ZOO REHABS WILDLIFE AND RETURNS THEM TO THE WILD

In what once was habitat for grizzlies like Tutu, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo in Southern California rehabilites injured or sick wild animals in hopes of returning them to their natural habitat if at all possible. (BIG BEAR ALPINE ZOO/SHAUNA PRICE)

“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.” - Theodore Roosevelt

T

he concept of coexisting peacefully and sustainably with nature is not a new one, but it did become increasingly popular after Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, placed an emphasis on preserving our natural resources so that we might enjoy endless years of recreation. Under his leadership, 230 million acres of public lands were established, creating a conservation legacy for countless generations to enjoy.

Today, over 100 years later, we are still learning how to preserve our precious resources. However, the call for conservation today involves more than creating awareness; it calls for creating a connection. As any outdoor enthusiast knows, talking about nature is one thing, but actually exposing all of your senses to

the many facets of what nature has to offer develops into a connection that transforms short-term fascination with long-term commitment.

The value of time spent in the woods has been considered therapeutic by many romantics and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

In 2005, author Richard Louv published his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, coining the phrase “nature-deficit disorder” to serve as a description of the human costs of alienation from nature. It has been generalized that this comes from living in a world of handheld electronic devices.

Today’s zoo has become a conduit for creating a commitment

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Black bears like the zoo’s Pooh Bear have a sense of smell that is 100 times sharper than our own. (BILL YOUNG)

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to conservation. Once recreation facilities, zoos are relying heavily on conservation messaging in order to create an emphasis of the role that we play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Also key is that human activities within ecosystems affect these systems.

In Southern California’s Big Bear Lake, it doesn’t take much time to realize that the mountain community here is teeming with wildlife. The biodiversity of fauna is supported by ecologically unique flora communities. Big Bear is considered part of a sky island: a forest-clad mountain range isolated from others by expansive valleys of grassland or desert.

UNDERSTANDING THE ANIMAL KINGDOM Not far from Big Bear Lake, a gaze of raccoons – what you call a group of them – is scurrying across branches foraging for food items, while other members of the gaze are busy at a nearby water source involved in their dunking ritual, rinsing their food through the water.

What at first appears to be both food and hand-washing is actually the technique used by raccoons to heighten their sense of touch, giving them precise information on what they are about to consume.

Nearby, a male black bear tilts his head up, and, with a rapid succession of airflow through his nostrils, determines that a tasty food source is close by. His sense of

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DESTINATION BIG BEAR smell, 100 times more powerful than that of a human’s, picks up a scent of an edible possibility. With massive arm and shoulder strength to accompany the incredible sense of smell, the 400-pound omnivore moves massive logs in an effort to find each morsel of hidden treasure.

Known for their expertise as an ambush predator, two mountain lions blend in with their surrounding mountain flora, hiding between bark and branch. The brown, black and grey hues of their fur make them almost invisible. Perfectly matched to the bark, they stealthily scan for activity on the ground beneath them.

BIG BEAR ALPINE ZOO The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. during the summer and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during fall, winter and spring. Located at 43285 Goldmine Drive in Big Bear Lake, the zoo is right across the street from Bear Mountain Ski and Board Resort. Each day at noon there is an animal presentation done by one of the keepers, followed by animal enrichment talks at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Admission Adults 10-59: $12 Children 3-9: $9 Military active duty or retired with ID: $9 Seniors 60 and over: $9 Children 2 and under: Free

WILDLIFE GALORE If you want to know more about the zoo and the animals in its care, check out Home to over 250 species of permanent and mithe website bigbearzoo.com or like them on their Facebook page (facebook.com/ gratory birds, Big Bear has an amazing sampling Big-Bear-Alpine-Zoo-153992871349371). of wildlife. But you don’t have to camp out in the wilderness just to catch a glimpse of some both mountain and nearby communities. With a nearly 80-perof California’s wild animals. In fact, those described above are cent success rate, animals are nursed back to health or weaned actually at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo. onto solid foods and then released back into the wild. If an aniFounded in 1959, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo is the only such famal is too injured or if it has lost its fear of humans, it cannot be cility of its kind in the United States. Situated at almost 7,000 released and has a home for life at Big Bear Alpine Zoo. feet above sea level, the zoo serves as a rehabilitation facility for

124 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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DESTINATION BIG BEAR

Snow leopards Asha and Shanti and grey wolf Logan are all residents of Big Bear Alpine Zoo, which aims to rehab injured or sick animals enough to let them free in the wild. (JOHN PRICE/SHAUNA CRANE) “Our goal at the zoo is to connect our guests to wildlife; to demonstrate both the uniqueness of our animals and their habitat in the wild,” says curator Bob Cisneros. “As for our animals, we focus on their natural behaviors, providing them with oppor-

126 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

tunities to thrive. I think this combination of connecting guests to wildlife and meeting the welfare needs of our animals makes us very successful at what we do.”

Some of those animals include raccoons, four species of foxes, bald and golden eagles, five species of owls, mountain lions, bobcats, black bears and grizzlies. The zoo even exhibits two snow leopards – siblings born with a genetic disorder that prevented them from participating in the Species Survival Plan breeding program. “We provide these two snow leopards with the opportunity to thrive, living in a climate that closely resembles their Himalayan habitat,” says Cisneros.

Big Bear is nowhere near the 19,000-foot heights at the roof of their home range, but it fits right in with the lower range of snow leopard distribution. Crisp air, mild summers, climbing structures, rock caves, and winter snow help to make their stay in Big Bear a very successful one.

“Some zoos actually pay thousands of dollars to have snow blown in to their snow leopard exhibits,” Cisneros says. “Our snow enrichment is sponsored by Mother Nature.”

If you are planning a fishing trip to Big Bear, get your wild on! A visit to the zoo is the best way to see representatives of our mountain ecosystem. Located on 2½ acres, the zoo brings the wild to you and houses over 100 animals, mostly native species.

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128 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

GOBBLER DOWN!

AFTER GOING TURKEYLESS IN TEXAS, A TRIP TO KANSAS HELPS SNAP BRITTANY’S SKID

By Brittany Boddington

A

Dedication, long hours and a change of location from the Lone Star State to the Sunflower State helped Brittany Boddington, our Los Angelesbased hunter, score her first turkey this spring.

fter my first turkey fail, I was anxious to get back out and try again.

This time I headed to Kansas and hunted with Dan Bell of Bell Wildlife Specialties (785-589-2321; huntingkansaswhitetails.com). I was a little nervous since my first try for turkey was so unsuccessful in Texas (California Sportsman, June 2016), but Bell assured me we’d get the job done.

I arrived at midday and we immediately went on the computer and got my hunting license and turkey tag printed out. We had to wait for the rest of our group to arrive, but by the time they got there I was in my camo, ready to head out and redeem myself.

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The view from Brittany’s blind usually included turkeys, but in many cases they were just hens or small jakes. The author wasn’t sure a mature tom would show up before her hunt wrapped up. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

THE FIRST AFTERNOON WAS pretty exciting. Bell thought that we should try sitting in a cool little grassy area with trees and a little creek bed running through it.

We hid ourselves in a spot with some taller grass and bushes and brushed ourselves in as best we could. We sat as still as possible and Bell tried doing some calling on his

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Boddington was dressed for turkey success, but she was going to have to work for this bird. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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slate. The sun was at that magical angle where everything looks golden when Bell made a little sound to let us know there was a turkey creeping in from behind us. I was so excited I struggled to stay still.

After what seemed like forever, a jake finally popped out from the creek bed and stood about 20 yards from me next to a tree. It was dead still while looking around, and I knew instinctively that this was not a big enough bird to shoot. Still, I was excited to see it anyways and wanted to let the guys know that it was around.

They were at a different angle and couldn’t see the young male turkey yet. I moved just a bit to signal to them that the jake was out, but it must have spotted me because it took off and was gone.

The next morning we went out long before daylight and climbed into a blind that overlooked a big field. There was water down below and a tree line that wrapped around us. We set out some decoys, did some calling and waited.

It wasn’t long before the first hen arrived. She made her way along the tree line, heading toward the water below, and was followed by a few more hens. We settled in, called a little and waited. A little while later the same hen emerged from the trees closest to us and made her way over to the decoy. The other hens followed and circled around for a bit before they wandered away.

As the morning progressed two coyotes crossed the

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field in front of us, but unfortunately I didn’t have a rifle with me and they never came in shotgun range.

That afternoon we tried another spot, which overlooked an old cornfield that was out of use.

Bell had heard that the turkeys were roosting nearby, so we hoped to catch them headed in for the night. This time we didn’t sit long before the first one arrived. It was a jake, so we watched him circle around for a while.

To our right a hen popped out; as we watched her, two big longbeards came walking in right behind her. We all got pretty excited – probably too excited and I ended up rushing my shot and shooting right over the top of them. Things weren’t going as well as I’d hoped.

I ONLY HAD TWO days to hunt and I had ruined my first chance, so I was not very happy with myself.

But I didn’t give up either.

The next morning we tried the same spot again and had the same result, except the coyotes didn’t show up. In the afternoon we tried a new spot

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Besides guiding hunts for whitetail, pheasants and turkey in the Harveyville, Kan., area, Brittany’s friend Dan Bell is also a taxidermist there. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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tucked in a corner of a grassy opening surrounded by trees. We did some calling and heard some rustling in the brush but never got a turkey to come out.

Finding a tom to wander into shooting range took patience. Eventually a big enough bird was within range. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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That should have been my last chance. I had to leave for the airport around 8:30 a.m. the next morning, but we decided to squeeze in one last hunt before I left.

We got up and out extra early and drove further than we had before. We settled into a blind on a tree line overlooking two big empty fields. As light started to break through the trees, a hen appeared. She slowly worked her way past us and across the field into the trees on the other side. We could hear more turkeys coming down from a roost nearby, and sure enough, one by one they crossed in front of us as they made their way out for the day.

The clock was ticking and no big toms had appeared. I started to consider shooting a jake just so that we would have a turkey to take home. I didn’t want to, but given my streak, desperation was becoming a factor. I second-guessed myself a few times after passing on a few birds.

I knew we had to pull the plug on the morning hunt in about 30 minutes and was praying something would arrive before that.

I looked down and when I looked up there were two big longbeards walking toward me. I got so excited I fumbled trying to get myself in position, but thankfully the toms were looking at a hen and didn’t notice. I waited for a good shot. When the turkey stopped I took it, and thank goodness the bird didn’t fly away this time! I had my very

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Finally, success! Brittany was running out of time and staring at the reality of ending another hunt without filling her gobbler tag, but this nice tom cooperated for her and guide Dan Bell, allowing her to notch her first tag.

(BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

first eastern turkey and it was gorgeous!

Just before I shot it had started to drizzle, and when I pulled the trigger it seemed to open up the skies. By the time I got to the turkey it was pouring rain. We gathered up our gear and got out of there just in time to head to the airport.

Just when I thought all hope was lost, it ended up being a successful hunt, and definitely one that I will not forget. Now it’s time to hit the range and work on my shotgun skills for the next turkey season! CS Editor’s note: Brittany Boddington is a Los Angeles-based journalist, hunter and adventurer. Like her at facebook.com/brittanyboddington and follow at instagram.com/brittanyboddington.

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HUNTING

TIME FOR A LITTLE ‘GROUP’ THERAPY MISS A SHOT AT A BIG BUCK LAST FALL? NOW’S THE TIME TO GET THAT RIFLE DIALED IN – HERE’S ONE EXPERT’S GAME PLAN

By Dave Workman

C

es has come loose. That happened to me once, about five years ago. Couldn’t get my rifle to zero all of a sudden, and this was with fresh ammunition I had only just loaded up at the bench. Sure as hell, one of my bases was just a teensy bit loose.

I got out the gunsmith gear, tightened the screw down and dropped on a dab of clear nail polish.

Item No. 3: I just mentioned it. Get fresh ammunition.

If you don’t reload, get down to the store and stock up.

There’s work to be done. Be sure to stick with one load. If you plan to hunt with, say, a .30-06 with 165-grain bul-

omplaining or simply beating up on yourself about a shot you missed last fall is not going to solve your problem this season.

Summer is here, and with it are those long, lazy evenings that you can spend at the range, and if you’re lucky, you’ll bump into old pals and enjoy some therapeutic conversation and trigger time.

Making excuses for not being able to take this time seems to be a favorite pastime of people determined to become vegetarians and just go camping with guns in the fall. For the rest of us, however, putting meat in the freezer and notches in that tag requires more than just sitting around thinking about it until the night before the fall opener.

First item of business: Clean your rifle. Now. Inside and out. There’s nothing like a bath of Hoppe’s No. 9 or Outer’s Nitro Powder Solvent to get the gunk out of your gun. Pull the stock and clean the Miss an easy shot last fall? Best retire to the range right now for practice. Author Dave Workman is not going to complain about a group like this because no big game is going to protest, either. He was prepping for a Wyoming hunt a few years ago, using action and trigger group. 165-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips in a .30-06. He came home with venison and a nice rack. (DAVE WORKMAN) You don’t have to be a gunsmith for this; just get lets, then sight your rifle in with the same ammo. Putting some aerosols and go to work, preferably outside. your gun into zero with one type of ammunition and then Item No. 2: Check your scope mounts and bases. If you hunting with something different is going to mess you up, missed an easy shot, it just might be that one of your bascalsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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HUNTING and the scope was tilted off-center. You can’t really zero a gun that way.

We rotated the scope until the crosshairs were where they belonged and, voilà, five rounds later the rifle was zeroed.

If you’re careful with a rifle, the zero shouldn’t change from year to year. Use a good sandbag rest under the stock and under the butt. This steadies the rifle for a precise shot. Set a target at 25 yards and 100 yards. Fire one round at the close target, let the barrel cool for a minute and fire again, and if it is off right, left, up or down, adjust accordingly.

Remember, a rifle that adjusts a ¼ inch at 100 yards for each click SCOPE IT OUT! will need to adjust four clicks at One more thing is criti- Workman zeroed his Savage bolt-action chambered for .308 cal. Make sure your scope is Winchester. Notice that he “walked” his rounds up from the 10-ring to 25 yards. just below the 2-inch line. He subsequently clicked the crosshairs left If you have adjusted correctly, mounted properly, and that a half-inch after this photo was taken. Couple of months later, he was the third shot at 25 yards should means making sure the cross- cleaning a 4x5 mule deer buck. (DAVE WORKMAN) be in the X-ring. hairs are straight up and down, Now, shift out to the 100-yard target and expect the and flat one side to the other. A few years ago, I helped bullet impact to be slightly off, probably on the low side, someone zero a rifle with which she was having trouble. but that’s not always guaranteed. Fire a second shot and Piece of cake, because she’d gotten the gun as a package maybe just enough to miss.

Item No. 4: Also from the “This happened to me” file comes this bit of advice: If your rifle barrel is supposed to “float” free of the wood stock and doesn’t when you run a dollar bill down the underside, between the bottom of the barrel and the stock, and the bill doesn’t slide all the way up to the receiver, you need to lightly sand the barrel channel out, coat it with linseed and/or tung oil, allow it to dry and make sure the barrel does not contact the wood.

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HUNTING if the bullets impact close to one another, take note of the impact point and adjust the scope as needed while the barrel cools.

Where I hunt, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve shot deer out to about 400 yards. My -06 was zeroed to shoot 3½ inches high at 100 yards using a 180-grain Nosler AccuBond ahead of a max charge of Hodgdon Hybrid 100 V ahead of a standard large riďŹ&#x201A;e primer. Bingo!

THE COLD BARREL It is important to let the barrel cool, for a number of reasons.

The most important of these is that out in the ďŹ eld, your ďŹ rst shot at game will be from a cold barrel. Also, you can damage a riďŹ&#x201A;e by making the barrel so hot you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t touch it. Save your riďŹ&#x201A;e barrel and do this process slowly.

If your ďŹ rst two shots landed low an inch or so but windage is ďŹ ne, run your elevation up eight clicks and ďŹ re again. This should solve your problem. Now set the riďŹ&#x201A;e aside with the action open and the muzzle upwards on a rack while you trot downrange and change targets.

Save your ďŹ rst target to study back at the bench as you get ready to ďŹ re again.

If you plan to be hunting an area where shots at game may be at 250 to 350 yards, prepare to do the following.

Fire one or two more rounds to make sure the riďŹ&#x201A;e is in the X-ring with the new target. It should be.

Now, click up eight to a dozen clicks, which should put the bullet impact 2 to 3 inches high at 100 yards, but â&#x20AC;&#x201C; depending upon the caliber and velocity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it should then strike pretty close to dead on at about 250 to 300 yards.

RETURN TRIPS Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think this gets you ready for fall. Go home, clean the riďŹ&#x201A;e, put it away and later in the month head back to the range. The riďŹ&#x201A;e should put shots right where you were putting them at the initial sight-in session.

Set aside a date in August and again in September for the same purpose. Even if you ďŹ re only a couple of shots at each sitting, you will know that the riďŹ&#x201A;e is retaining zero and you will be all set when the season arrives.

Remember, this is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;group effort.â&#x20AC;?

A riďŹ&#x201A;e with a good barrel and scope combination should be able to produce 1- to 2-inch groups consistently at 100 yards. Not everyone is capable of shooting threeshot strings into a hole that can be covered by a quarter, but take my word on this: If your bullet strikes an animal within an inch or two of where you want it to strike its vitals, that animal is headed for the meat locker.

What is a good group? As I said, 1 to 2 inches is nothing has announced a new propellant for shotshells andlooks pistol like a to Hodgdon complain about. A three-shot cluster that cartridges. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Winchester 572, which should keepit. shotshell cloverleaf?

Save that target and frame CS reloaders pretty busy. (HODGDON)

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CALL US NOW TO BOOK YOUR HUNT!

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ALBERTA RIVER VALLEY LODGE Alberta River Valley Lodge provides whitetail deer hunts, mule deer hunts and moose hunts with exclusive access to over 50 quarter sections of (deeded) private property in Wainwright, Alberta. Surrounded by farmland, rolling hills and the famous Battle River, this area possesses all the natural habitat required to produce quality trophy deer and moose.

If you are a waterfowl hunter, then we have the goose and duck hunting trip for you. Our waterfowl hunting area is surrounded by farmland, sloughs and small lakes, and it boasts a variety of migratory waterfowl that enjoy the abundant food supply and shelter. We offer shoots over water as well as on land, utilizing the best techniques and equipment.

As avid hunters, we know how important your hunt is to you and we will do everything we can to put you on the trophy of your dreams. We look forward to the upcoming year and hope that you can join us in the adventure of a lifetime.

KELLY UDELL • OUTFITTER 3344-11007 JASPER AVE. EDMONTON, ALBERTA T5K OK6 INFO@UDELLSHUNTING.COM • WWW.UDELLSHUNTING.COM

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Aerial Predator/Hog Hunts Skyhunter Outfitters is located in Bonham, Texas -- about one hour northeast of Dallas – and owned by Chris Hitt, a 13-year veteran and former U.S. Army Cavalry Scout pilot.

Chris is putting his flying background to good use and will be flying you on your hunts, ensuring the highest level of safety while providing opportunities to get plenty of shots on wild hogs!

Our goal is to bring aerial depredation services to areas of Texas, where landowners and farmers are hit the hardest and allow hunting and sportsmen and – women an opportunity unparalleled by any other form of hunting, which can’t be experienced anywhere else,

Hunters’ Reviews There's no official season on invasive wild hogs in Texas, meaning you can find an operation or two just about anywhere in the state that'll take you up any day of the year. But the crew at Skyhunter Outfitters, located a short drive north of Dallas, does things a little differently. Their choppers fly during a short window every winter from January to March, ensuring customers see lots of hogs every time they go up. Hogs are most active during the colder months, and bare trees means there's nowhere to hide.

These boys leave a lot of money on the table for most of the year to ensure their loyal customers have a blast each and every time, but the end result is always happy hunters and many freezers worth of wild bacon.

BOOK YOUR HUNT TODAY!

Recent studies have estimated the feral hog population in Texas to be between 3.5 and 5 million. Every year landowners, farmers and ranchers battle this invasive species. Feral hogs do an estimated $500 million in economic damage per year. Seven out of every 10 hogs must be killed in order to keep their numbers in check, and that’s where we come in!

Expect to see 40 to 60 hogs within two hour period and the average hunter will shoot about 10 to 15 hogs. Ultimately, our aim is to provide an invaluable service to landowners and save them from as much damage and crop loss each year as possible, plus providing a hunting experience tailored for each hunter or group of hunters that is sure to be an experience of a lifetime.

Fantastic time for beginner & experienced hunters! Definitely recommend it for a weekend you’ll never forget and never stop talking about. The pilot was calm, methodical and more than professional. The owner is accommodating and focused on everyone’s safety.

Summed up: Go hog hunting w/ Skyhunter Outfittters! A great, all positive experience.

Great Experience! Our Pilot was very professional and made our hunting experience very comfortable. I will definitely do this again! The lodge was nice, the staff went out of their way for service, and the food... GREAT Eating!

Kudos!

903-707-1501 | Sky-Hunters.com

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THE FERRARI OF TRIGGERS PERFORMS AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS. BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT. “This trigger is so clean and crisp that it amazes me every time... The reset is magic.” - Joe

“Once you squeeze this trigger and make a follow-up shot in the same hole, you’re gonna be so mad you spent money on any other trigger group.” - Doug

“I have used many different drop-in AR triggers in the past, but the RA-535 is without a doubt the best of the best! The break is so clean, I am almost surprised when it happens, and the reset is so crisp that double-taps and follow-on shots are a breeze.” - Joel

“I was able to have a much better feel between my finger and the trigger with no take-up, giving me a much more precise shot. And with the reset as crisp and solid as it is, my follow-up shots were fast and spot on.” - Les

“My grouping has become so tight, it’s hard to count the shots on the paper target at 100 yards with backup sights only… Amazing product.

Amazing company.” - Daniel

THE RA-535 ADVANCED-PERFORMANCE TRIGGER Proudly designed and made in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma www.RiseArmament.com

HANK AND RAY’S TRAILER RENTALS Looking to camp in the Bridgeport area but either don’t want to tent it or don’t have the rig to pull a trailer all the way there? No problem! A longtime local outfit has the vacation solution for you!

California Sportsman How did Hank and Ray’s Trailer Rentals get started?

Mike Montgomery (owner) It was started in 1961 by Hank Cannon, and we bought it from him in 1972 and have had it ever since.

CS How many family members work there?

MM There are four of us who are involved in the family business.

CS How high up in the high Sierras are you?

CS We are at an elevation of 7,000 feet.

CS Tell us about the hunting and fishing in that area.

MM Hunting and fishing in the Bridgeport area are magnificent. Hunters can take a 4x4 buck and anglers can land a 15-pound trout. We have it all.

CS Do you have fishing packages?

MM Our fishing packages run in the spring and fall and include a 26-foot travel trailer, campsite fees and a threeday boat rental for $550, plus tax. The packages include up to four people and are available at the Twin Lakes Resort and Mono Village.

CS What are your trailers like and what is the process to get a rental?

MM We have a fleet of 30 trailers that range from 26 to 30 feet. We’ll deliver to your campsite through October 31 and we are able to get sites in the private campground or if you have a reservation at a U.S. Forest Service campground. We’ll park and set it up, and when you’re ready to leave, we bring it back home. We also have RV and mobile pumping services and water delivery available.

CS You must have a lot of loyal customers.

MM Yes – one family has been renting from us for close to 50 years. It’s special having generations of families who enjoy this beautiful place we call home. This is something that makes our family very happy.

Hank and Ray’s Trailer Rentals (760) 932-7740 bridgeporttrailerrntls.com

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